A Philadelphia Light Horse Trooper, 1775 - Edward Penfield
Archival giclée
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Description
Penfield's A Philadelphia Light Horse Trooper, 1775 was created as an advertising illustration for Hart, Schaffner & Marx, a Chicago clothing manufacturer. It depicts a cavalryman from the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry in his Revolutionary War-era uniform, combining historical costume illustration with commercial branding.
Historical context
The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, founded in November 1774, is the oldest continuously active military unit in the United States. It served as George Washington's personal mounted guard during the Revolutionary War, escorting him during the crossing of the Delaware and fighting at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. The troop's distinctive uniform, with its silver helmet crest and dark blue coat, made it one of the most visually recognisable units in the Continental Army.
Hart, Schaffner & Marx used historical military figures in their advertising to associate their brand with American heritage and distinguished appearance. The message was implicit: men who wear our clothes share something with the men who founded the nation. Penfield produced a series of these historical costume illustrations for the company, each depicting a different military figure from American history. The series gave him an opportunity to work with period uniforms, equipment, and military bearing, subjects he clearly relished.
About Edward Penfield (1866–1925)
Often called the father of the American poster, Penfield served as art director of Harper's Magazine from 1890 to 1901, producing over 100 cover designs during that period. His style drew on Japanese woodblock printing and the French affiche tradition: flat areas of colour, bold outlines, and minimal detail. He became one of the most recognised illustrators of the American Art Nouveau movement, and his wartime posters remain some of the most widely studied examples of early 20th-century graphic propaganda.
This fine art reproduction is printed on museum-grade stock, faithful to the original's bold colours and graphic simplicity.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. EU customers have a 14-day cooling-off right. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
A Philadelphia Light Horse Trooper, 1775 - Edward Penfield
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Choose poster, framed print, canvas or framed canvas
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
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Artist Biography
Edward Penfield
Penfield embraced simplicity and strong, flat colours, drawing inspiration from Japanese prints and the Arts and Crafts movement. Eschewing excessive detail, he focused on conveying the essence of a scene or product with minimal lines and bold compositions. His posters, often promoting *Harper's* magazine, exude a sophisticated charm and a distinctly American sensibility. Penfield's innovative approach to composition and colour made his work instantly recognisable and highly influential.
Today, Edward Penfield's posters are celebrated for their timeless appeal and graphic ingenuity. His ability to distill complex ideas into visually arresting images continues to inspire designers and artists. Collectors are drawn to Penfield's work not only for its aesthetic beauty but also for its historical significance as a window into a bygone era of American optimism and artistic innovation. His prints add a touch of vintage elegance and graphic punch to any modern space.
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