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Primary sourcePaintingbefore 1817

Thomas Jefferson

Tadeusz Kościuszko (attributed), engraved by Michał Sokolnicki · before 1817

A colored aquatint portrait of Thomas Jefferson, said to be drawn by his friend Tadeusz Kościuszko and engraved by Michał Sokolnicki.

This aquatint is attributed to Kościuszko as the original artist, pointing to his friendship with Thomas Jefferson.

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Oval colored aquatint portrait of Thomas Jefferson in profile facing right, wearing a laurel wreath in his powdered white hair, dark coat, white cravat and orange waistcoat, against a dramatic cloudy sky. Printed caption below reads 'Thomas Jefferson, A Philosopher a Patriote and a Friend', 'Dessiné par son ami Tadée Kosciuszko', 'Et Gravé par M. Sokolnicki'.
Attributed to Tadeusz Kościuszko (drawing) and Michał Sokolnicki (engraving), Thomas Jefferson, before 1817. Copyprint of colored aquatint.

About this source

What it is

This is a copyprint of a colored aquatint showing Thomas Jefferson in profile, wearing a laurel wreath, against a dramatic sky. The printed caption states it was "Dessiné par son ami Tadée Kosciuszko" (drawn by his friend Tadeusz Kościuszko) and engraved by Michał Sokolnicki, describing Jefferson as "A Philosopher a Patriote and a Friend."

Why it matters

The image points to the personal friendship between Kościuszko and Thomas Jefferson, two figures connected through the American Revolution and its ideals. If the attribution is accurate, it shows Kościuszko not only as a soldier and engineer but also as an artist capturing his American friend's likeness. However, the attribution and date are uncertain and need further checking.

Look closer

  • What does the printed caption claim about who made the original drawing, and who engraved it?
  • Why might the attribution to Kościuszko be uncertain, and how could historians check it?
  • What does calling Jefferson a "Philosopher a Patriote and a Friend" suggest about how he was viewed by his contemporaries?

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

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Proclamation of Połaniec

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General Thaddeus Kosciusko

Benjamin West · 1797

Oil painting of a man with dark, tousled hair in a dark coat over a blue sash, with a white collar and black cravat, looking toward the viewer against a grey-brown background.Painting

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Portrait of Tadeusz Kościuszko

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1778

Handwritten manuscript page in Polish, dark ink on aged paper, with an ornate title reading 'Ustawa Rządowa' and the opening invocation 'W Imię Boga w Trójcy Świętey Jedynego', followed by a list of royal titles and body text in cursive. A handwritten date notation appears at top right.Document

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Constitution of May 3, 1791

3 May 1791

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