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

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

Jacob Lawrence, artist

1917–2000

Ives-Sillman, Inc., designer

1958–1978

Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts, publisher

founded 1919

Sirocco Screenprinters, printer

founded 1950

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

Where object was made: New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Material/technique: Domestic Etching paper; screen print

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 510 x 355 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 20 1/16 x 14 0.9764 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 657 x 510 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 25 7/8 x 20 1/16 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 32 1/4 x 24 1/4 x 1 in

Credit line: Museum purchase: Gift of Jeff and Mary Weinberg

Accession number: 2020.0068.22

Not on display

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Jacob Lawrence and The Legend of John Brown

Brown’s last written statement was: "I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much blood shed it might be done." Lawrence’s portrayal of Brown is one of many that represent him as a martyr for abolitionism. When asked in 1978 to speak about this series and others of historical figures, Lawrence explained: "The inspiration to paint the Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and John Brown series was motivated by historical events as told to us by the adults of our community… the black community. The relating of these events, for many of us, was not only very informative but also most exciting. To us, the men and women of these stories were strong, daring and heroic; and therefore we could and did relate to these heroes by means of poetry, song, and paint."