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Primary sourcePainting1780-1781

John Paul Jones by Moreau le Jeune

Jean-Michel Moreau (Moreau le Jeune) · 1780-1781

A 1780 engraved portrait of John Paul Jones drawn from life in Paris during the height of his fame in France.

This portrait, drawn from life in Paris, captures Jones at the height of his French celebrity.

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Black-and-white engraved portrait of a man in a tricorn hat with a cockade, wearing a dark military-style coat with epaulette, buttoned waistcoat, and white cravat, facing slightly to the side against a shaded background.
Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune (drawing) and Jean-Baptiste Fossoyeux (engraving), John Paul Jones, 1780-1781.

About this source

What it is

This engraving was drawn from life by Jean-Michel Moreau (known as Moreau le Jeune) in 1780 and completed by Jean-Baptiste Fossoyeux in 1781. It shows John Paul Jones in naval dress with a tricorn hat.

Why it matters

At the time this portrait was made, Jones was a celebrated figure in Paris following his naval exploits during the American Revolution. The image reflects how his fame extended beyond America, as French artists and society embraced him as a hero of the war against Britain.

Look closer

  • What details in the clothing and pose suggest Jones's status as a naval officer?
  • Why might a French artist have wanted to draw Jones from life?
  • How does this image compare with the Peale portrait or Houdon bust made around the same time?

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

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Treaty of Alliance with France

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John Paul Jones Congressional Gold Medal

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