Captain Isaac Manchester (1769-1860)

Details

Descriptive Terms

portraits
paintings (visual works)
canvas
oil paint (paint)
Picture
Portrait
Portrait

Label

"Cherished Possessions": Isaac Manchester of Bristol, Rhode Island, made a fortune in the slave trade, bringing molasses from the West Indies to New England to be made into rum, shipping rum to Africa to be traded for slaves, and transporting slaves to the West Indies for sale. In this portrait, Cephas Thompson captures the harsh character required of a slave ship captain. After a federal law prohibited American participation in the trade, a depression hit towns like Bristol that were heavily invested in it; ultimately, Isaac Manchester was ruined and died in poverty.
"Artful Stories": Isaac Manchester of Bristol, Rhode Island, made a fortune as a ship captain engaged in the slave trade. Here, artist Cephas Thompson captures the harsh character distinctive of those engaged in the business of capturing and selling people, particularly slave ship captains. After federal prohibition of transcontinental human trafficking was enacted in 1808, economic depression hit towns like Bristol that were heavily invested in buying and selling people. Ultimately, Manchester was ruined and died in poverty.

Associated Person

Manchester, Isaac, 1769-1860

Maker

Thompson, Cephas (Artist)

Location of Origin

Bristol, Rhode Island, USA

Dimensions

30 7/8 x 25 5/8 x 2 (HxWxD) (inches)

Credit Line

Bequest of Miss Evelyn A. Munroe

Accession Number

1964.18

Places

Rhode Island (United States)
Bristol (Bristol county, Rhode Island)
Probably

Related Items

Title Portrait of Priscilla Manchester Accession Number 1964.19