The Council of Rulers & the Elders Against the Tribe of ye Americanites
January 1, 1775
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 5 15/16 x 3 15/16 in. (15.1 x 10 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924
Accession Number
24.90.1442
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the charged atmosphere leading up to the American Revolution, this anonymous British engraving from January 1, 1775, delivers sharp political satire. Titled *The Council of Rulers the Elders Against the Tribe ye Americanites*, it a mock council—likely caricaturing British officials or colonial loyalists—plotting against the rebellious "Americanites," a biblical-style jab at the colonists. Produced amid escalating tensions like the First Continental Congress, the print reflects Britain's imperial viewpoint, using humor and exaggeration to ridicule patriot fervor. As a compact engraving (jus...