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Primary sourcePaintingc. 1792

Thomas Paine, Drawing Attributed to Samuel Collings

attributed to Samuel Collings · c. 1792

A pencil, ink and wash drawing of Thomas Paine made around 1792, possibly from life.

A rare, possibly life-drawn likeness of Paine from the time of his most famous writings.

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Sepia-toned pencil, ink and wash drawing of a man with curly hair seated and turned slightly, wearing a high-collared dark coat with ruffled white cravat, holding an open book in one hand with his other hand resting on his knee against a pale background.
Attributed to Samuel Collings, Thomas Paine, c. 1792.

About this source

What it is

This drawing, attributed to Samuel Collings, is made in pencil, ink and wash on paper, dated around 1792. It shows Paine seated, holding an open book.

Why it matters

Made during the period when Paine's Rights of Man was causing great controversy, this drawing is a rare and relatively informal likeness. Because it may have been drawn from life, it offers a less polished view of Paine than formal painted portraits of the same years.

Look closer

  • What does Paine holding a book suggest about how the artist wanted him to be remembered?
  • How does this informal drawing compare to the more formal engraved portraits of Paine from the same period?
  • What can we not tell about Paine's personality just from this image?

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

More Thomas Paine sources

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Title page of the 1776 Philadelphia pamphlet Common Sense, addressed to the Inhabitants of America, printed by R. Bell in Third Street. Handwritten annotations include a name in the top corner and Thomas Paine's name near the bottom.Book

Primary source

Common Sense

Thomas Paine · 10 January 1776

Photograph of the first page of a printed 1776 pamphlet titled The American Crisis, Number I, by Thomas Paine, with handwritten annotations at the top reading 'by Thomas Paine' and 'published in the Penn. Journal' and 'June 1776'. The printed text begins 'These are the times that try men's souls.'Book

Primary source

The American Crisis

Thomas Paine · 1776-1783

Title page of Rights of Man, reading 'Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution, by Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Congress in the American War, and Author of the Work Intitled Common Sense. London: Printed for J. S. Jordan, No. 166, Fleet-Street. MDCCXCI.' Handwritten ink marks appear in the upper right corner.Book

Primary source

Rights of Man

Thomas Paine · 1791-1792

Title page of The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine. Text reads: 'The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology. By Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Congress in the American War, and author of the works entitled Common Sense, and Rights of Man, &c. Paris: Printed by Barrois. London: Sold by D. I. Eaton, at the Cock and Swine, No. 74, Newgate-street. 1794. Price two shillings.'Book

Primary source

The Age of Reason

Thomas Paine · 1794-1807

Scan of the engrossed Declaration of Independence on aged parchment. Heading reads 'In Congress, July 4, 1776' with the title 'The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America' below. Dense handwritten text fills the page; signatures appear at the bottom.Document

Primary source

Declaration of Independence

Continental Congress (drafted by Thomas Jefferson) · 1776

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