Washington as a Freemason
Date1870
Subject
George Washington
(American, 1732 - 1799)
Subject
Marquis de Lafayette
(French, 1757 - 1834)
Medium/TechniqueInk on paper; chromolithograph
DimensionsOverall: 23 in. x 19 in. (58.42 cm x 48.26 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Gibby, 1984
Object numberWB-4A1
DescriptionThis print is a portrait of George Washington outfitted as a Freemason, surrounded by emblems and imagery relating to Freemasonry.MarkingsPrinted in ink above the image: "Washington as a Freemason / G".
Printed in ink around the top-left portrait image: "An Order Whose Leading Star is Philanthropy. / Lafayette".
Printed in ink around the top-right portrait: "Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee / Jackson".
Printed in ink on the document in Washington's hand in the image: " "The grand object of / Masonry is to promote / the happiness of the / Human Race." / Washington".
Printed in ink on the left column in the image: "Charity / Hope / Faith / Born / Feb. 22. / A.D. 1732".
Printed in ink on the right column in the image: "Beauty / Strength / Wisdom / Died / Dec. 14. / A.D. 1799".
Printed in ink below the image of Washington: "Commander of the American Army, 1775. President of the United States. 1789 / Initiated, November 4th 1752, in Fredricksburg, Lodge No. 4, Virginia. Passed, March 3rd 1753 Raised, August 4th 1753."
Printed in ink below the sculptural images (left to right): "Fortitutde", "Prudence", "Temperence", "Justice".
Printed in ink below the bottom-left side of the portrait image: "Awake not his Slumbers, tread lightly around, / Tis the Grave of a Freeman, tis Liberty's mound, / Thy Name is immortal, our Freedom you won. / Brave Sire of Columbia, our own Washington. / Oh! Wake not the Hero, his Battles are o'er, / Let him rest, calmly rest, on his dear native Shore, / While the Stars & Stripes of our Country shall wave / o'er the Land that can boast a Washington's grave."
Printed in ink below the bottom-right side of the portrait image: "Disturb not his Slumbers, Let Washington sleep. / 'Neath the Boughs of the Willow that over him weep, / His Arm is unnerved, but his deeds remain bright / As the Stars in the dark vaulted Heaven at Night. / Oh! wake not the Hero, his Battles are o'er, / Let him rest undisturbed on Potomac's fair Shore, / On the River's green Border, so flowery drest, / With the hearts he loved fondly, let Washington rest.".
Printed in ink below the bottom-left corner of the image: "J.H. Powers & Co. Fraternity Publishers, Cin.O".
Printed in ink below the image: "Entered according to Act of Congress by Strobridge & Co. in the year 1870, in the clerks office of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio".
Printed in ink below the bottom-right corner of the image: "Stobridge & Co. Lith. Cinncinnati. O. "
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