The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Rgt (Stauffer 2675; Stokes & Haskell 1770-C-10; Brigham, pp. 52-78)

The Bloody Massacre is one of the earliest political prints created in America and depicts a pivital moment in the young country's struggle for independence. A group of British soldiers, taunted by a small mob of patriots, opened fire on the civilians in an act of confusion that was later seen as outright murder. Five men died at the scene.

Paul Revere learned the art of printmaking through his skills as a silversmith. Like the fifteenth century goldsmiths before him, who developed engraving and etching, Revere drew an easy parallel between chasing silver and engraving copper plates. His composition comes from Henry Pelham, who had asked Revere's opinion on his engraved depiction of the historical moment. Revere took the composition and proceeded to publish his own print, well ahead of Pelham's and only a few weeks after the incident. Naturally, Pelham was enraged and called Revere's actions "dishonorable."

Revere's engraving, based as it is on Pelham's, depicts the British soldiers as executioners: they stand stiffly in line and fire at the crumpling mass of unarmed Bostonians, their red uniforms and grim expressions suggesting devils emerging from clouds of smoke. A small dog, long the symbol of obedience and loyalty, stands ominously in the foreground, seemingly oblivious to the violent scene behind him.