Tour06_373
1862 print RECEPTION OF NEW MORMON CONVERT, #373

Nice small view titled Réception d'un néophyte mormon. - Dessin de David d'après le général Bennet, from wood engraving with fine detail and clear impression, overall size is approx. 20 x 17.5 cm, image size is approx. 16 x 12 cm. From Le Tour du Monde, French 19th century illustrated exploration and travel magazine, which started publishing in 1860.


John C. Bennett

John Cook Bennett (August 3, 1804 – August 5, 1867) was an American physician and briefly a ranking and influential leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, who acted as mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion in the early 1840s.

Bennett's involvement in the Latter Day Saint movement came after several encounters with the community that had left him impressed. He therefore wrote several letters to Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois, in which he declared his desire to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Bennett was essential to the passing of the Nauvoo city charter in the Illinois Legislature, the provisions of which he had helped craft. He even garnered praise for his lobbying efforts on behalf of the Mormons from the young Abraham Lincoln.

His efforts on behalf of the Mormons and the long time he spent living in the Mansion House in Nauvoo secured for Bennett the confidence of Smith. Smith was instrumental in promoting Bennett to ever greater civic and ecclesiastical responsibilities in Nauvoo. Bennett became a Counselor in the First Presidency, the mayor of Nauvoo, General of the Nauvoo Legion, and the chancellor of Nauvoo University.


Jules David

Jean-Baptiste David (called Jules David; 1808–1892) was a French painter and lithographer. His illustrations appeared in many books and magazines. He was particularly known for his illustrations of contemporary Parisian fashions.