The Bostonian's Paying the Excise-Man, or Tarring & Feathering
1774
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1774
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Bostonian's Paying the Excise-Man, or Tarring & Feathering is a 1774 ink by Philip Dawe, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a group of men in old-fashioned clothes attacking someone. One man is on the ground, covered in feathers and tar, while others hold him down. A ship and a tree labeled "Liberty Tree" appear in the background, and the scene looks dramatic and chaotic. The title at the bottom, *The Bostonian’s Paying the Excise-Man, or Tarring & Feathering*, hints this is about punishment. The dark, shadowy style makes the action feel intense. Look up Dawe, Philip to see more of his political prints.
