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He's Truly the Brave that Overcomes Himself

He's truly the Brave that overcomes himself
Paper
Artist:  Pieter Stevens van Gunst
Late 17t ...
He's Truly the Brave that Overcomes Himself
He's truly the Brave that overcomes himself
Paper
Artist:  Pieter Stevens van Gunst
Late 17t ...
He's truly the Brave that overcomes himself Paper Artist: Pieter Stevens van Gunst Late 17th century
Status
Not on view
Label Text

George Washington amassed a rather large and sophisticated collection of prints during his lifetime. They included portraits of eminent persons, classical landscapes, and scenes from modern and ancient history, such as this series of five massive line engravings detailing the triumphs of Alexander the Great. Washington likely kept these rare and expensive prints in a portfolio in his Study. It is not known when and from whom he might have acquired them.

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Date1720
After (French, 1619 - 1690)
Engraver (Dutch, 1659 - 1724)
Geography Made - Netherlands
DimensionsOverall: 35 3/16 in. x 23 1/8 in. (89.38 cm x 58.74 cm)
Credit LineGift of Annie Burr Jennings, Vice Regent for Connecticut, 1936
Object numberW-717/B
DescriptionAlexander the Great, accompanied by Hephaestion, meets Stateira, Sisygambis and the rest of Darius's family, gathered under a tent.
Published ReferencesJoseph Manca, George Washington's Eye: Landscape, Architecture, and Design at Mount Vernon (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012), 208, 285.

R. T. H. Halsey, "Prints Washington Lived at Mount Vernon," Bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art 30 (March 1935): 65.

Centennial Celebration of the Inauguration of George Washington as First President of the United States. Committee on Art and Exhibition, Catalogue of the Loan Collection of Portraits, Relics, and Silverware Exhibited at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, April 17th to May 8th, 1889 (New York: Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company, 1889), #406, 94.
MarkingsPrinted in ink below the bottom-left side of the image: "He's truly Brave that overcomes himself. / Alexander, having overthrown the Persians near the city of Tarus, enters the Royal tent / of the Family of Darius and there gives a singular Proof of his Clemency and Continence." Printed in ink below the image, centered: "Sui victoria indicat Regem. / Alexander. Dario ad Tssum victo tabernaculum Reginarum ingreditar / ubi singulare demetiae ac continentue proebet exemplum." Printed in ink below the bottom-right side of the image: "Il est d'un Roy de se vaincre soy mesme. / Alexandre ayant vaincu Darisu prez la ville d'Tsse entre dans une tente ou estoient la Mere / la femme et les filles de Darius, ou il donne un exemple singulier de retenue et de clemence."
Mount Vernon's object research is ongoing and information about this object is subject to change. For information on image use and reproductions, click here.
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