Revolutionary War Sketch Discovery

What roles did women play in supporting soldiers during the Revolutionary War?

Who was the Swiss artist associated with Revolutionary War sketches mentioned in the content?

What was the significance of the sketch donated to the museum?

When was the sketch first put on public display?

What aspect of women's contributions during the war is highlighted in the content?

What was the profession of Matthew Skic?

What did Judith Hernstadt primarily collect?

Which army's soldiers were depicted in Hernstadt's sketch?

What did Skic find significant about the sketch?

What contributed to Hernstadt's realization of the sketch's historical significance?

Which description was found on the back of the sketch?

What event does the sketch correlate with, based on Skic's findings?

How many known artworks feature female followers of the Continental Army, as per the information provided?

Revolutionary War Sketch Discovery

Judith Hernstadt, an 18th-century artifact collector, purchased a sketch depicting a Revolutionary War scene in the mid-1970s.
The drawing shows two women, a baby, and six soldiers (2 in wagon, 2 on horseback, 2 on foot), in a horse-drawn supply wagon.
It also included five preliminary sketches of two men.
The sketch's significance wasn't recognized until 2023.

Discovery and Analysis

Matthew Skic, a curator, recognized a Continental Army soldier's uniform in the drawing.
Skic's examination confirmed the paper and ink were from the Revolutionary era.
The sketch contained partially legible text, "An exact representation of a waggon belonging to the North Carolina Brigade of continental troops which passed through Philadelphia in August done by…". The name of the artist was missing.
Skic traced the text to a newspaper archive describing the North Carolina brigade's passage through Philadelphia in August 1777. This march preceded the Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777).
This established the sketch as an eyewitness account of the North Carolina troops.

Uniqueness and Importance

The sketch is the first known wartime eyewitness drawing of the North Carolina troops.
It is one of only two known artworks featuring women accompanying the Continental Army.
Women played significant support roles (e.g., cooking, household chores, medical care) for the army, which often go unacknowledged in historical records.

Identification of the Artist

Skic identified the likely artist as Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, a Swiss artist known for Revolutionary War sketches, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1774.

Donation and Public Display

Hernstadt generously donated the sketch to the Philadelphia Museum of the American Revolution.
It was put on display in April 2024.
The sketch is considered crucial to understanding the everyday life of Continental Army troops.

Explore the fascinating discovery of an 18th-century sketch depicting a Revolutionary War scene. This quiz delves into the details surrounding the artifact's purchase, its significance, and the curator's analysis that linked it to the Continental Army. Test your knowledge of this historical moment and the artifacts from that era.