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Secondary sourcePainting1829

Thomas Jefferson, Line Engraving by A. Oleszczynsky after T. Kosciuszko

A. Oleszczynsky, after Tadeusz Kościuszko · 1829

An 1829 engraved portrait of Thomas Jefferson reproducing an original portrait drawn by Kościuszko, showing his skill as an artist and his friendship with Jefferson.

This engraving reproduces a portrait of Jefferson originally made by Kościuszko, showing his artistic skill and friendship with Jefferson.

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Line engraving in an ornate scrolled border titled JEFFERSON. Inside an inner frame, a profile bust portrait in three-quarter view facing right of a man with a laurel wreath in his powdered hair, wearing a dark coat and white cravat against a cloudy background. Printed caption is along the bottom edge of the image.
A. Oleszczynsky, Thomas Jefferson, line engraving, 1829, after a portrait by Tadeusz Kościuszko.

About this source

What it is

This is a line engraving of Thomas Jefferson made by A. Oleszczynsky in 1829, based on a portrait originally created by Tadeusz Kościuszko. It is part of an iconographic collection of portrait prints.

Why it matters

Kościuszko and Jefferson were close friends, and this print is evidence that Kościuszko was not only a soldier and engineer but also made an original portrait of Jefferson skilled enough to be reproduced as a formal engraving decades later. It reflects the personal bond between the two men, who shared political ideals about liberty.

Look closer

  • What does it mean that this engraving is a copy of an image Kościuszko made, rather than the original?
  • What might Kościuszko's choice to portray Jefferson, specifically, tell us about their relationship?
  • How might the engraver's style have changed or idealized Kościuszko's original image?

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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Printed broadside proclamation headed 'RADA NAYWYZSZA NARODOWA' with the name Tadeusz Kosciuszko in large capitals, dated Warsaw 30 Maja 1794, in Polish, printed in two columns on aged paper with a signature and seal mark at the bottom.Document

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Proclamation of Połaniec

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General Thaddeus Kosciusko

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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

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