Jacob Lawrence | Spencer Museum of Art

Spencer Museum of Art

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Place of Birth: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Date of Birth: September 7, 1917

Place of Death: Seattle, Washington, United States

Date of Death: June 9, 2000

Works of Art: 23

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000), The Builders: The Family

The Builders: The Family, 1974

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, a man who had a fanatical belief that he was chosen by God to overthrow black slavery in America.

John Brown, a man who had a fanatical belief that he was chosen by God to overthrow black slavery in America., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), For forty years John Brown reflected on the hopeless and miserable conditions of the slaves.

For forty years John Brown reflected on the hopeless and miserable conditions of the slaves., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), For twelve years John Brown engaged in land speculations and wool merchandizing. All this to make some money for his greater work which was the abolishment of slavery.

For twelve years John Brown engaged in land speculations and wool merchandizing. All this to make some money for his greater work which was the abolishment of slavery., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), His ventures failing him, he accepted poverty.

His ventures failing him, he accepted poverty., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, while tending his flock in Ohio, first communicated with his sons and daughters his plans of attacking slavery by force.

John Brown, while tending his flock in Ohio, first communicated with his sons and daughters his plans of attacking slavery by force., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown formed an organization among the colored people of the Adirondack woods to resist the capture of any fugitive slaves.

John Brown formed an organization among the colored people of the Adirondack woods to resist the capture of any fugitive slaves., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), To the people he found worthy of trust, he communicated his plans.

To the people he found worthy of trust, he communicated his plans., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown’s first thought of the place where he would make his attack came to him while surveying land for Oberlin College in West Virginia, 1840.

John Brown’s first thought of the place where he would make his attack came to him while surveying land for Oberlin College in West Virginia, 1840., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Kansas was now the skirmish ground of the Civil War.

Kansas was now the skirmish ground of the Civil War., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Those pro-slavery were murdered by those anti-slavery.

Those pro-slavery were murdered by those anti-slavery., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown took to guerrilla warfare.

John Brown took to guerrilla warfare., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown’s victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts.

John Brown’s victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, after long meditation, planned to fortify himself somewhere in the mountains of Virginia or Tennessee and there make raids on surrounding plantations, freeing slaves.

John Brown, after long meditation, planned to fortify himself somewhere in the mountains of Virginia or Tennessee and there make raids on surrounding plantations, freeing slaves., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown collected money from sympathizers and friends to carry out his plans.

John Brown collected money from sympathizers and friends to carry out his plans., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown made many trips to Canada organizing for his assault on Harper’s Ferry.

John Brown made many trips to Canada organizing for his assault on Harper’s Ferry., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), In spite of a price on his head, John Brown in 1859 liberated twelve negroes from a Missouri plantation.

In spite of a price on his head, John Brown in 1859 liberated twelve negroes from a Missouri plantation., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown remained a full winter in Canada, drilling negroes for his coming raid on Harper’s Ferry.

John Brown remained a full winter in Canada, drilling negroes for his coming raid on Harper’s Ferry., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), July 3, 1850. John Brown stocked an old barn with guns and ammunition. He was ready to strike his first blow at slavery.

July 3, 1850. John Brown stocked an old barn with guns and ammunition. He was ready to strike his first blow at slavery., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Sunday, October 16, 1859. John Brown with a company of 21 men, white and black, marched on Harper’s Ferry.

Sunday, October 16, 1859. John Brown with a company of 21 men, white and black, marched on Harper’s Ferry., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown held Harper’s Ferry for twelve hours. His defeat was a few hours off.

John Brown held Harper’s Ferry for twelve hours. His defeat was a few hours off., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), After John Brown’s capture, he was put on trial for his life in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia).

After John Brown’s capture, he was put on trial for his life in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia)., 1974–1977

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown was found “guilty of treason and murder in the first degree” and was hanged in Charles Town, Virginia, on December 2, 1859.

John Brown was found “guilty of treason and murder in the first degree” and was hanged in Charles Town, Virginia, on December 2, 1859., 1974–1977

Exhibitions: 9

Intersections of Race and Gender

Erin Barnett, curator
Rachel Epp Buller, curator
Douglas Steward, curator

1999

Big Stuff: Contemporary Art from the Collection

1998

African-American Works from the Collection

Andrea Norris, curator

1995

Black Lives Matter

Kate Meyer, curator

2020

Brosseau Center for Learning: Elements and Principles of Design

2021

One History, Two Versions

, curator

2024

Jacob Lawrence and The Legend of John Brown

Kate Meyer, curator

2024

Brosseau Center for Learning: Slavery and Abolition

2022

Brosseau Center for Learning: Bleeding Kansas, Slavery, Abolition

2023