Artist

Henry Pelham

Portrait of Henry Pelham
Portrait of Henry Pelham

Thirteen Colonies, 1749–1806

Henry Pelham was a Thirteen Colonies Romanticism painter. 2 works are cataloged here, principally at Metropolitan Museum of Art, most of them watercolors. Henry Pelham was born in Boston.

Henry Pelham (February 14, 1748/49 – 1806) was an American painter, engraver, civil engineer, and cartographer active during the late 18th century. Pelham's many illuminating letters, especially to his half-brother and fellow painter John Singleton Copley, provide an important contemporary perspective of the events of the American Revolution. Pelham's engraving of the 1770 Boston Massacre, the shooting of several rioters by British soldiers in Boston, was made soon after the event happened.

Paul Revere improperly copied Pelham's work and distributed it throughout the thirteen colonies to increase or rouse anger against authorities. Pelham remained loyal and was harassed for it. He moved to England in 1776.

Works by Henry Pelham

Collections represented

Catalog records compiled from museum open-access collections; the artworks shown are in the public domain. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.