The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King-Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of ye 29th Regt.
PrinterPrinted by
Paul Revere
American, 1735 - 1818
Date1770
MediumEngraving; printer's ink and watercolor on laid paper
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 7 7/8 x 8 1/2in. (20 x 21.6cm)
Platemark (height x width): 10 5/8 x 9in. (27 x 22.9cm)
Sheet (height x width): 11 1/8 x 9 1/2in. (28.3 x 24.1cm)
Platemark (height x width): 10 5/8 x 9in. (27 x 22.9cm)
Sheet (height x width): 11 1/8 x 9 1/2in. (28.3 x 24.1cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineGift of Isaac W. Plummer
DescriptionBritish soldiers at the right fire at a crowd at the left. Three men lie bleeding on the ground. A fourth is being carried off by his comrades. A small spotted dog is in the center foreground. The Boston State House is in the background. Commercial buildings line the street. Signs at the right reads "BUTCHER'S HALL" and "G R / CUSTOM HOUSE". A crescent moon is in the sky at the upper left.
Object number1840.9.7
InscribedOn recto, engraved title above image, "The BLOODY MASSACRE perpetrated in King Street BOSTON on March th 1770 by a party of the 29th REGT."On recto, engraved text beneath image, "Unhappy BOSTON! See thy Sons deplore, / Thy hallow'd Walks besmear'd with guiltless Gore. / While faithless P___n and his savage Bans. / With murd'rous Rancour stretch their bloody Hands. / Like fierce Barbarians grinning o'er their Prey, / Approve the Carnage, and enjoy the Day. // If scalding drops from Rage from Anguish Wrung / If speechless Sorrow lab'ring for a Tongue, / Or if a weeping World can ought appease / The plaintive Ghosts of Victims such as these: / The Patriot's copious Tears for each are shed, / A glorious Tribute which embalms the Dead. // But know, FATE summons to that awful Goal, / Where JUSTICE strips the Murd'rer of his Soul. / Should venal C___ts the scandal of the Land, / Snatch the relentless Villain from her Hand, / Keen Execrations on this Plate inscrib'd, / Shall reach a JUDGE who never can be brib'd, / / The unhappy Sufferers were Messrs. SAML. GRAY. SAML. MAVERICK, JAMS. CALDWELL, CRISPUS ATTUCKS & PATK. CARR Killed. Six wounded; tow of them (CHRISTR. MONK & JOHN CLARK) Mortally."
On verso, lower right, in pencil, accession number.NotesHistorical Note: On the evening of March 5, 1770, a group of citizen patriots cornered a British sentry at the door of the Custom House in Boston. When British troops arrived to rescure the soldier, they opened fire on the mob. Five civilians were killed, including the ex-slave Crispus Attucks.
Paul Revere based his depiction of the Boston Massacre on an engraving by Henry Pelham. It was issued just three weeks after the massacre took place, setting a new standard for pictorial journalism in America.
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