While working through several boxes of Drew manuscripts I came across this fascinating letter from 1804 signed by John Wesley Jarvis. Jarvis (1780-1840) was the nephew of Methodist founder John Wesley. At the age of 5, he and his family arrived in the United States from England. During the early 19th century he painted several portraits of well-known Americans including Andrew Jackson.
I view hundreds of autographed manuscripts as a part of my job at the United Methodist Archives & History Center at Drew University. This signature caught my attention because of the caricature of a young man alongside the autograph. Was this a self-sketch of Jarvis in 1804 at the age of 24? Art historians may find this manuscript of interest.
Advertisements
that’s a pretty solid looking man there…love the movement in the simple playful sketch