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Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences, by Samuel Jennings, 1792.
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This painting depicts Lady Liberty and newly freed 
African Americans, surrounded by books, paint, and palette, musical instruments and sheets of music, a world globe, and sculpture.

Credit: The Library Company of Philadelphia

Commissioned by the abolitionist leaders of the Library Company of Philadelphia, Samuel Jennings" "Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences" (1792) provided a metaphorical argument for how the arts and sciences could uplift and civilize newly freed African Americans – seen in prayerful submission on the right.

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