[Portrait] In 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette signed an agreement with Britain's rebelling colonies to serve in their armies without compensation. He was motivated by his native France's hatred of England and his sympathy for the American Revolution's political ideals.

Lafayette gained a prominent place in the war's pantheon of heroes. His actions helped corner the British forces at Yorktown, leading to their surrender to General Washington on October 19, 1781.

Lafayette returned to the United States in 1824 for a year-long tour. Many portraits were made of the hero, including one by the artist Ary Scheffer. This portrait was based on Scheffer's original and was probably the work of Matthew Harris Jouett.

Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, gift of the John Hay Whitney Collection.

Portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette (1757B1834), about 1825, probably by Matthew Harris Jouett (1788-1827) after Ary Sheffer, oil on canvas

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