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Museum object · Visual Arts

Slave Trade (Execrable Human Traffick, or The Affectionate Slaves)

ca. 1788

England, Europe

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

An oil painting with wood frame depicting a scene of a man being captured from his family by slave traders on the coast of Africa. The central man, wearing an off-white loincloth, is held by each arm by two other men. The man on the left wears a light-colored jacket and pants with a light-colored hat. The hat has a flat brim and a red cloth tied around the crown. The man has a matching red cloth around his neck. He has both hands around the upper arm of the man in the loincloth. On the man's other side is a figure is a pale blue frock coat. This figure holds a long club over his head in his right hand. His left hand grasps the upper arm of the man in the loincloth. On the other side of the man in the blue frockcoat is a woman and small child.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2010.8.1ab

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