SILHOUETTE OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN American, circa 1790 In a metal frame of the period Painted paper, H. 4 5/8 inches
he most likely subject for this silhouette is one of the prominent African- American religious leaders of the Eighteenth Century. Existing images suggest the Reverend Richard Allen as a possible candidate. Allen (1760-1831) was born into slavery in Philadelphia. His master was the Quaker lawyer Benjamin Chew, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania during the American Revolution. The Allen family was sold to another owner in Delaware when, in 1777, Richard converted to Methodism. He later became associated with the Reverend Absalom Jones in Philadelphia, where together they founded the African- Methodist-Episcopal Church (of which Allen was to become the first bishop) and were associated with a Black Masonic Lodge. In 1787 Allen was instrumental in founding the Free African Society, which was, according to Charles H. Wesley, 'The first evidence which history affords of an organization for economical and social cooperation among Negroes of the western world.' $3500
he most likely subject for this silhouette is one of the prominent African- American religious leaders of the Eighteenth Century. Existing images suggest the Reverend Richard Allen as a possible candidate. Allen (1760-1831) was born into slavery in Philadelphia. His master was the Quaker lawyer Benjamin Chew, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania during the American Revolution. The Allen family was sold to another owner in Delaware when, in 1777, Richard converted to Methodism. He later became associated with the Reverend Absalom Jones in Philadelphia, where together they founded the African- Methodist-Episcopal Church (of which Allen was to become the first bishop) and were associated with a Black Masonic Lodge. In 1787 Allen was instrumental in founding the Free African Society, which was, according to Charles H. Wesley, 'The first evidence which history affords of an organization for economical and social cooperation among Negroes of the western world.'