Skip to main content

Secondary sourcePainting19th century

19th century engraving of L'Ouverture

J. Barlow, after a sketch by Marcus Rainsford · 19th century

An engraving based on a sketch by British officer Marcus Rainsford, who met Toussaint Louverture, giving it an eyewitness basis.

This engraving, based on a sketch by someone who met Toussaint, is one of the few likenesses with an eyewitness basis.

Ask Toussaint Louverture about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Sepia-toned engraving of a standing man in a black top hat with a tall plume, a dark military-style coat with chevron-patterned sleeves, and a sash at the waist. He holds a folded paper in one hand and a curved sabre in the other. Behind him are a fortified hillside, a small building on top, palm trees, and a second figure in uniform with a plumed hat.
Engraving by J. Barlow after a sketch by Marcus Rainsford, 19th century.

About this source

What it is

This sepia engraving by J. Barlow is based on a sketch by Marcus Rainsford, a British officer who personally encountered Toussaint Louverture. It shows a standing man in a plumed hat and military coat holding a paper and a sabre, with a fortified hillside and a second uniformed figure behind him.

Why it matters

Because Rainsford actually met Toussaint, this image is considered one of the few likenesses with some eyewitness basis, unlike many later idealized portraits. It shows how a contemporary European observer chose to depict Toussaint as a commanding military figure.

Look closer

  • Why does having an eyewitness source make this image different from later portraits of Toussaint?
  • What does the setting—fortified hillside, palm trees, a second soldier—tell you about how Rainsford wanted to show Toussaint's world?
  • What biases might a British officer bring to a sketch of a foreign military leader?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Toussaint Louverture on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Toussaint Louverture sources

Meet the AI Toussaint Louverture →
Book cover in green, pink, red, blue, black and orange marbled paper with a black spine on the left. A white label at top left shows handwritten call numbers 'Lk 554' and 'g°'. Text at bottom reads 'Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France'.Document

Primary source

Constitution républicaine des colonies française de Saint-Domaingue

Toussaint Louverture · 1801

Title page of a book, a scan of a yellowed printed page reading 'Mémoires du Général Toussaint-L'Ouverture, écrits par lui-même', with a publisher's ornament and 'Paris, Pagnerre, Libraire-Éditeur, 1853' at the bottom. The book is attributed to Saint-Remy, not handwritten manuscript.Book

Primary source

Mémoires du Général Toussaint-L'Ouverture écrits par lui-même

Toussaint Louverture · 1853 (text written 1802)

Painted portrait of a man in a dark-blue and red military uniform with gold epaulettes, a white sash with gold stars, and white trousers. He holds a folded paper in his right hand and stands before a stormy blue sky and dark mountains, with a sword hilt visible at his left side.Painting

Secondary source

Général Toussaint Louverture

19th century

Sepia engraving of a scene in a tropical landscape: a tall officer in a plumed hat and uniform stands center, receiving a letter from a man in a long coat at right, while a woman in a long dress, children, and other figures gather around, with palm fronds and trees behind.Painting

Secondary source

Toussaint Louverture reçoit une lettre du Premier Consul

Charles Monnet · 1802

Handwritten manuscript page in French headed 'Extrait des Nouvelles Officielles, du Journal du Soir, Courrier de la République française', dated 'Du Cap-Français, le 5 frimaire', with the heading 'Au Nom de la Colonie Française de Saint-Domingue, Toussaint Louverture, Gouverneur de Saint-Domingue'. The text begins 'Depuis la révolution'.Document

Primary source

Acte écrit de Toussaint Louverture contre l'insurrection de 1801

Toussaint Louverture · 1801

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Toussaint Louverture now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions