Alfred Thomas Agate (1812-1846) American, Hawaiian King Engraving Portrait. The image is of King Kamehameha III, titled as such below it. "Welch & Walter Sc." printed bottom right, "Drawn by A.T. Agate" printed bottom left. A blue stamp bottom left reads "Public Library Watertown, Mar 27 1871." 

Overall Size: 10 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. 

Alfred Thomas Agate was born February 14th, 1812 in Sparta, New York, first studying painting alongside his brother Frederick Styles Agate and exhibiting his work with the National Academy of Design in New York City by the late 1830s. His landscapes, portraits, and botanical illustrations are recognized for their important contributions to the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842. During the voyage, he created the first known illustration of Mount Shasta and produced over half of the artwork used to document the expedition’s scientific and geographical findings. His detailed sketches captured the cultures of the South Pacific and the Oregon Territory, including rare records of indigenous dress and burial customs. Tragically, he developed consumption during the journey and it killed him four years later at the age of 33 on January 5th, 1846, but his legacy is preserved through the many geographic features named in his honor, such as Agate Passage in Washington, and his expansive collection of drawings was eventually donated to the Navy Art Collection, where it remains an essential historical resource to this day. 

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