$5,875
(Revolutionary War, North America), Important pen and ink drawing by Major John Andre (1751-178), depicting a country farmhouse with fence and landscape, signed faintly lower right, reverse inscribed "This drawing is the last drawing of Major John Andre / Thos. P. Cope, Phila. 1851 / I hope you keep it and remember me always / this is the farm and the past. he spent his last days there.", framed, (good). Note: In 1775, Andre was captured and sent to Lancaster, Pennsylvania as a prisoner of war. In Lancaster, the enlisted prisoners were kept in barracks, while captured officers were housed at their own expense in local inns. Andre was among those officers allowed to reside with a local family. He moved in with the Caleb Cope family. The Copes developed a real affection for Andre, who gave art lessons to their eldest son. Further, in this German-speaking Lancaster community, Andre's fluency added to his popularity. During the now infamous conspiracy with Benedict Arnold, Andre felt that wearing his British uniform was too dangerous, Andre donned an American uniform for the treacherous trip. It was in that last distance, while traveling alone and believing himself out of danger that Andre was stopped by a trio of American freelancers, dressed in British uniform. Andre commands them to give way. They reveal themselves and immediately search Andre, discovering Arnold's papers hidden in his boot. Andre is immediately arrested. It was assumed that Andre possessed stolen papers. Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2006-11-19
