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Primary sourcePaintingc. 1781

Portrait of John Paul Jones

Charles Willson Peale · c. 1781

A life portrait of John Paul Jones painted by Charles Willson Peale around 1781, showing him with a French honour he received for his wartime service.

This life portrait shows Jones wearing the French medal awarded for his wartime service, presenting him as a Revolutionary hero.

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Oval painted portrait of a man in a black tricorn hat with a cockade, wearing a navy coat with gold epaulettes over a red waistcoat, white cravat, and a blue ribbon with a gold medal. Dark brown background.
Charles Willson Peale, Portrait of John Paul Jones, c. 1781.

About this source

What it is

This oval painting by Charles Willson Peale shows John Paul Jones in naval dress, wearing the gold medal of the French Cross of the Institution of Military Merit on a blue ribbon. It was likely painted around 1781, during one of Jones's visits to Philadelphia.

Why it matters

Peale painted many heroes of the American Revolution for his museum gallery, and this portrait shows how Jones was presented to the public as a national hero. The French medal depicted was given by Louis XVI in 1780 and later confirmed by Congress, linking Jones's fame to both French and American recognition.

Look closer

  • What does the medal and uniform tell you about how Jones wanted to be remembered?
  • Why might an artist like Peale choose to paint Revolutionary heroes for a public gallery?
  • What is left out of a formal portrait like this?

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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