Emblem of the United States of America

Samuel A. Harris

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an allegorical emblem. The image depicts a seated figure holding a staff and a branch, surrounded by a border of linked circles with stars. The figure is draped in classical robes and is sitting on a large spherical object, with a shield resting beside them and various items, including an open book and anchor, placed in the foreground. The composition is finely detailed, with the folds of the robes, the texture of the woven sphere, and the pattern on the shield rendered with delicate linework. The border adds a decorative element, reinforcing the emblematic theme of the piece. The inscription at the bottom reads, "Emblem of the United States of America. Peace with all Nations, Partiality to none."