“First Recruits” By Charles Waterhouse

Description

Special Order

Boot Camp, December 1775
Print depicts Captain Samuel Nicholas and Lieutenant Matthew Parke overseeing men line up to join the Continental Marines.

40% of the purchase price from this print directly benefits the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the Nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children, with particular attention given to those whose parent has been killed or wounded in combat, or who have demonstrated financial need.

• Measures 16″ x 21″
• Printed on archival quality paper

“Lacking the sand and nostalgic memories of Parris Island or San Diego, the Willing and Morris wharves are located a few blocks from Tun Tavern, along the waterfront of colonial Philadelphia, and are believed to have served as Boot Camp for the first Continental Marines. While experienced seafarers and military types were desired, according to master rolls, the first recruits encompassed a wide range of ages…sizes…professions…abilities…and character.

In the painting, the only man standing in a military manner is the former seaman with bandana and earring, petticoat breeches, cutlass, with his tower musket held properly. The rest – ranging from boy to fop – will have a lot to learn to please the old sergeant, whose gestures and temperament remain the same throughout the ages.

This was the first panel created for the Marines in the Revolution series, and established elements and factors that would reoccur in all the (Waterhouse) paintings to follow. The inclusion of dogs, kids and girls – not to mention distinctive characterizations of individual figures – were not exactly the recruiting poster standard types, and took a bit of getting used to.”
– Excerpt from Marines and Others: The Paintings of Colonel Charles Waterhouse USMCR (Ret)