2-832-814 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

A lithograph portrait of African-American diplomat, abolitionist and writer Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) who escaped from slavery in Maryland aged 21. He became a national leader of the abolitionist movement. Famous for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings, he was described by abolitionists as a living counterexample to slaveholders' arguments that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to function as independent American citizens. Douglass is pictured wearing a dark colored suit and jacket with a white, high collared undershirt. He has a mustache. Typed below the portrait is “Eng. by A.H Ritchie. “ Written at the bottom of the portrait in black ink is “Frederick Douglass.”