Perpetual Calendar

Status

Not on view

Date1792-1799

After Jean-Antoine Houdon (French, 1741 - 1828)

Geography Probably made - United States

Medium/TechniqueInk on paper, color aquatint etching, engraving.

DimensionsImage (H x W): 6 in. × 3 3/4 in. (15.24 cm × 9.53 cm) Plate (H x W): 8 1/2 in. × 7 in. (21.59 cm × 17.78 cm) Overall (H x W): 11 in. x 8 1/2 in. (27.94 cm x 21.59 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley DeForest Scott, 1985

Object numberSC-21

DescriptionPrinted designed to be made into a perpetual calendar depicting a bust portrait of Washington. The calendar is set against an American flag, in color. In the upper-half centered is an oval scene with Mercury or Hermes sitting on a beach with a ship in the harbor. Below this is a laurel garland, in the middle of which are two eagles in a nest. Below the eagles is a grid with the numbers of a month. To either side of the calendar are printed strips, designed to be cut out and inserted in slots of the calendar. The strip on the left lists the days of the week. The one on the right lists the number of days in the months. Finally at the bottom of the tablet is a circular portrait of George Washington in profile framed with draped flags. Watermark on the right side, J. Bouchet.

Published ReferencesCharles Henry Hart and Samuel Arlent Edwards, Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington (New York: Grolier Club of the City of New York, 1904), 90.

MarkingsPrinted above eagles, center: "Perpetual Calender”. Printed below eagles, center: "Mortal! do you know a moment's value?". Printed above George Washington portrait: "Washington". Printed column left side: “Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday / Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday / Sunday”. Printed column right side: “January / February / March / April / May / June / July / August / September / October / November / December / 31 days / 28 or 29 days / 31 days / 30 days / 31 days / 30 days / 31 days / 31 days / 30 days / 31 days / 30 days / 31 days”.

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