Item No. 1971320

A CDV view from a portrait of Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, the celebrated French nobleman and military officer who volunteered to serve in the American Revolution. Appointed a major general in the Continental Army, he became one of General George Washington’s most trusted commanders and played a vital role in the Yorktown Campaign. After returning to France, Lafayette remained a prominent advocate for constitutional government and individual liberty through the French Revolution, cementing his reputation as the “Hero of Two Worlds.” His celebrated return tour of the United States in 1824 was a cultural mega-event, with souvenirs such as this CDV circulating widely. The image was trimmed down to about 2 1/4” x 3 3/8”.

The image was part of a family album assembled by Bernard John Dowling Irwin, the noted Civil War army surgeon, naturalist, and Medal of Honor recipient.