Artwork
Title Page
Title Page is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Edward Beyer. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:text on stone: Album of Virginia / Sic Semper Tyrannis / Illustrated / by / Ed. Beyer / 1858. / Mount Vernon. / Monticello. / Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858 by Ed. Beyer in the Clerks Office of the District of Virginia
About this work
Around her are four smaller scenes in oval frames: two show buildings and landscapes, and two show grand houses labeled Mount Vernon and Monticello.
This image is a decorative title page for Album of Virginia. At the center, a woman in a flowing white dress stands holding a flag, with a dog at her feet. Around her are four smaller scenes in oval frames: two show buildings and landscapes, and two show grand houses labeled Mount Vernon and Monticello.
The whole thing is framed by swirling vines and leaves, with the words "Sic Semper Tyrannis" and "Illustrated by Ed. Beyer 1858" printed below.
The flag’s design and the phrase "Sic Semper Tyrannis" were later tied to a famous event in U.S. history. The two houses shown are real places connected to early American leaders.
Look up lithography to see how this detailed print was made.
Overview
The work is a color lithograph printed on wove paper in 1858, serving as the title page for an album dedicated to Virginia. Central to the composition is a woman in a white dress holding a flag, accompanied by a dog, surrounded by four vignetted scenes that depict buildings, landscapes, and the historic homes Mount Vernon and Monticello. Decorative vines frame the image, and the inscription below reads “Sic Semper Tyrannis” and credits Edward Beyer as illustrator.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, likely an allegorical representation of Virginia, holds a flag that later became associated with a pivotal moment in American history. The inclusion of Mount Vernon and Monticello underscores the album’s focus on the state’s heritage, linking the visual program to the legacies of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Technique & Style
Created through the lithographic process, the image combines hand‑drawn outlines with multiple color applications to achieve a richly detailed, decorative effect. The use of wove paper provides a smooth surface that enhances the fine lines and subtle tonal variations characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century American printmaking.
History & Provenance
Edward Beyer, a German‑born artist who worked extensively in the United States, produced the lithograph as part of a series of illustrated publications. The piece reflects his reputation for rendering Southern landscapes and historic sites, and it was originally issued as the introductory page for the “Album of Virginia.”
Context
The title page appears within a broader tradition of illustrated travel and regional albums popular in the antebellum period. Its decorative motifs and inclusion of iconic architecture align with contemporary efforts to celebrate American identity and natural scenery through accessible printed media.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Beyer (1820–1865) was a German landscape painter who was active in the United States and became known for his depiction of the Antebellum South.
