Phillis Wheatley 1773

Scipio Moorhead, a young enslaved man himself, created this engraving of Phillis Wheatley. Born in West Africa and brought to Boston, Wheatley was enslaved by the Wheatley family, who recognized and nurtured her extraordinary literary talent. In the portrait, Wheatley is seated at a desk, quill in hand, seemingly caught in a moment of contemplative inspiration, which defies the period's stereotypical representations of enslaved people. Yet, the inscription "Phillis Wheatley, Negro Servant to Mr. John Wheatley, of Boston," is a stark reminder of her enslaved status. Published as the frontispiece to Wheatley’s book "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" in 1773, the engraving served as a visual testament to her authorship, countering skepticism about a Black woman's intellectual capabilities at a time when slavery was still deeply entrenched in American society. It captures both Wheatley’s intellectual prowess and the complex dynamics of race, class, and gender in eighteenth-century America. The image invites us to reflect on the dualities of Wheatley’s life—her brilliance celebrated, yet her freedom denied.