Oliver Hazard Perry

Art Historical Context

Behold the striking portrait print *Oliver Hazard Perry* by William Strickland, created around 1814 and housed in the Smithsonian American Art's National Portrait Gallery collection. This work captures the naval hero of the War of 1812, adorned with an epaulet signifying his rank and the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal awarded for his valor. As a print, it exemplifies early 19th-century reproductive techniques, likely engraving, which allowed widespread dissemination of heroic images in an era before photography. Perry's fame stems from his pivotal victory at the Battle of Lake Erie in September 1813, where his fleet defeated the British, securing American control of the Great Lakes. His famous dispatch—"We have met the enemy and they are ours"—became a rallying cry of American resilience during the war. Strickland, a noted Philadelphia architect and artist (1788–1854), crafted this portrait amid national fervor, immortalizing Perry as a symbol of U.S. naval prowess. This print not only honors an individual triumph but reflects broader cultural pride in the young republic's fight for independence. Visitors will appreciate how such accessible prints fueled patriotism, bridging art and history in everyday life.