Lewis Scot, Capture of Campeche, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

This late nineteenth-century chromolithograph by Allen & Ginter depicts the Capture of Campeche, placing Lewis Scot prominently in the foreground. Here we see not just a portrait, but a potent symbol of adventure and conquest, deeply rooted in our collective imagination. The image’s composition evokes classical battle scenes, reminiscent of ancient friezes, yet imbued with a modern, romantic allure of piracy. Scot’s tricorn hat, adorned with a rosette, echoes the regalia of past military leaders, suggesting a lineage of power and command. But the hat is also a theatrical prop, a costume donned to play a role on the stage of history. Observe how the act of ‘capture’ is staged, immortalized in this mass-produced card. It invites us to consider how such symbols are continually repackaged and sold, tapping into our enduring fascination with the exotic and the rebellious. The cyclical journey of symbols is never-ending, constantly evolving through diverse cultural filters.