Printing the “Boston Massacre”

Saturday, March 30, 11:30 am lecture / 2:00 pm demonstration

Join Andy Volpe on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the Museum of Printing for a slide lecture and live printing demonstration about Paul Revere’s most famous (infamous?) print from 1770, “The Bloody Massacre” — better known today as the “Boston Massacre.”

Andy will give a slide lecture at 11:30 am where he'll discuss the background of Boston artisans and trades in 1770, explain where Revere got his print ideas, and how he went about creating arguably the most influential and successful piece of political propaganda in American history. Volpe will also talk about his project of creating his own full-size, hand-engraved replica of the Massacre for its 250th anniversary in March of 2020. This was one of only two exact replicas created in the 21st century, produced exactly in the way that Revere made the original.

Following the lecture Andy will give a printing demonstration using his replica copperplate. Prints from this and his special hand-colored limited edition for the Museum from 2023 will be available to purchase.

Andy Volpe researches and works in the Intaglio printing techniques of the Old Masters, spanning from the 1450s to 1800. He has been active with the Museum of Printing since 2006, where for the last few years he’s been researching the Klein collection of Prints, which comprises some 3,000 prints spanning 1493 to 1973. He works with Gary Gregory at the Printing Office of Edes & Gill in Boston, where they replicate prints and documents relating to the American Revolution. He is also active in Living History / Reenactment, where he covers the ancient Roman Legions, the early Renaissance, and on up to the early modern period.