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Secondary sourcePainting1829

Thomas Jefferson Line Engraving by Oleszczynski after Kościuszko

Tadeusz Kościuszko · 1829

An 1829 engraved portrait of Thomas Jefferson based on a drawing by his friend Tadeusz Kościuszko, made three years after Jefferson's death.

Made after Jefferson's death from a drawing by his friend Kościuszko, this print reflects his later legacy.

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Ornate decorative border engraving framing a small oval-less portrait engraving of a man in profile facing right, wearing a laurel wreath in his powdered hair, dark coat and cravat. Text beneath the portrait reads JEFFERSON. Inscription in the lower portrait margin reads: dessiné par Tadeé Kosciuszko, gravé sur acier 1829 par Antoine Oleszczynski.
Antoine Oleszczynski, Thomas Jefferson, line engraving, 1829, after a drawing by Tadeusz Kościuszko. Wellcome Collection, London.

About this source

What it is

This engraving of Thomas Jefferson was made in 1829 by Antoine Oleszczynski, based on a drawing by Tadeusz Kościuszko, the Polish military engineer and revolutionary who knew Jefferson personally. The print was produced three years after Jefferson's death and is held by the Wellcome Collection in London.

Why it matters

Because it was created after Jefferson died and relies on an earlier drawing, this print is a secondary source, shaped by memory and later printmaking choices rather than direct observation at the time of creation. It also reflects the personal connection between Jefferson and Kościuszko, two figures linked by shared revolutionary ideals.

Look closer

  • Why might an artist add a laurel wreath to a portrait, and what might that symbolize?
  • How might a portrait made after someone's death differ from one made during their lifetime?
  • What does the connection between Jefferson and Kościuszko suggest about international networks of revolutionary figures?

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

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Porträt Thomas Jefferson

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