General Washington
Date1780-1790
After
Charles Willson Peale
(American, 1741 - 1827)
After
Jean-Baptiste Le Paon
(French, 1736/1738 - 1785)
After
Noël Le Mire
(French, 1724 - 1801)
Subject
George Washington
(American, 1732 - 1799)
Subject
William Lee
(American, 1772 - 1840)
Geography
Possibly made -
England
Medium/TechniqueInk on paper; hand-colored etching
DimensionsOverall (H x W): 14 in. × 10 1/8 in. (35.56 cm × 25.72 cm)
Plate (H x W): 13 5/8 in. × 10 in. (34.61 cm × 25.4 cm)
Image (H x W): 12 7/8 in. × 10 in. (32.7 cm × 25.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley DeForest Scott, 1985
Object numberSC-15
DescriptionA full length military portrait of George Washington holding the Declaration of Independance and the treaty with France. In the background is Washington's enslaved aide William Lee with a horse. In the foreground are a number of bills and documents issued by Great Britain under Washington's feet.Published ReferencesCharles Henry Hart, Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington, (New York: The Grolier Club, 1904).
MarkingsPrinted document titles below the image of the horse from left to right:
"Military Maps of the several / States of America", "Correspondence / with the Congress", "New / Windsor", "To His Excellency / Genl. Washington / la Fayette Headquarter / M.G.", "The Several States & All / The Arts of the American Army".
Printed document text in the hand of George Washington from top to bottom: "Declaration / of / Independence / When", "Treaty / of / Alliance / Between His Most / Christian Majesty / and the United / States of America", "Battle of Monmouth".
Printed document titles on the foreground of the image from left to right: "Maps of the Jerseys with the several / Marches made by both Armies", "by Middlebrook Chap of Valley Forge", "Conciliartory Bills / Letter and Proclamations / from the / British Commissioners", "Protection / to Rebels / on Submission", "The / Bill to Pardon / the Rebels in / North America", "A Proclamation / by", "George the III / By the Grace of God / of Great Britain / King Defender of / the Faith".
Printed below the image: "General Washington".
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c. 1820-1825