A Display of the United States of America

Status

Not on view

Label Text

Doolittle's extremely rare engraving celebrates George Washington's indispensable role in the formation and future success of our nation's federal government. A chain of state seals connected by the Great Seal of the United States encircles Washington, and corresponds to his belief that "our Assemblies in Politics are to be compared to the Wheels of a Clock…if all will do their parts the Machine works easy; but a failure in one disorders the whole, and without the large one…nothg. can be done.".

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Date1794

After Joseph Wright (American, 1756 - 1793)

Maker Amos Doolittle (American, 1754 - 1832)

Printer Amos Doolittle (American, 1754 - 1832)

Subject George Washington (American, 1732 - 1799)

Geography Made - United States

Medium/TechniqueInk on paper; hand-applied watercolor, dry point etching and line engraving.

DimensionsOverall: 21 1/16 in. × 16 15/16 in. (53.5 cm × 43.02 cm) Other (Plate): 21 in. × 17 1/2 in. (53.34 cm × 44.45 cm) Other (Image): 16 in. × 16 in. (40.64 cm × 40.64 cm)

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

Object numberSC-4

DescriptionA circular full-bust portrait of George Washington in profile surrounded by the seals of the thirteen colonies. The seals are encircled by a interlocking rings and joined by a seal of the United States. In the four corners of the sheet there are calligraphic ovals surrounding text. There is also the title and further text printed below the image.

Published ReferencesJames C. Rees, "Treasures from Mount Vernon: George Washington Revealed" (Mount Vernon, VA: MVLA, 1999), 105 (ill.).

MarkingsPrinted in ink on the top-left corner: "The / United States / were first declared / Free and Independant / July 4th 1776". Printed in ink on the top-right corner: "The present / Consitution / was formd by the / Grand Convention / held at Philadelphia Sept. 7th / 1787". Printed in ink encircling the state seals. Begininning with the seal of the United States, clockwise: "Arms of the United States / Total of Inhabitants 3,919,023", "New Hampshire 2 Senators 4 Represenattives. / 141,885 Inhabitants.", "Massachusetts 2 Senat. 15 Repr. / 378,785 Inhabitants.", "Rhode Island 2 Senat. - 2 Repr. / 68,825 Inhabitants.", "Connecticut 2 Senat. 7 Repr. / 237,946 Inhabitants.", "New York 2 Senat. 11 Repr. / 340,120", "New Jersey 2 Senat. 5 Repr. / 184,139 Inhabitants.", "Pennsylvania 2 Senat. 14 Repr. / 434,373 Inhabitants", "Delaware 2 Senat.1 Repr. / 59,094 Inhabitants.", "Maryland 2 Senat. 9 Repr. / 319,728 Inhabitants", "Virginia 2 Senat. 23 Repr. / 747,610 Inhabitants", "North Carolina 2 Senat. 11 Repr. / 393,751 Inhabitants.", "South Carolina 2 Senat. 6 Repr. 240,000 Inhabitants.", "Georgia 2 Senat. 2 Repr. / 82,548 Inhabitants". Printed in ink encircling the portrait image :"George Washington President of the United States of America. The Protector of his Country. and the Supporter of the rights of Mankind". Printed in ink below the portrait image: "Born 11th. Feb 1732". Printed in ink in the bottom-left corner :"The number of Inhabitants in the / several States is according as they were, / reckoned in the Grand Convention / held at Philadelphia in 1787". Printed in ink in the bottom-right corner: "The number of Senators and Represent / atives is what the Constitution / alloweth each State at Congress". Printed in ink below the portrait and interlocking rings image: "A Display of the United States of America / To the Patrons of Arts and Sciences, in all parts of the World this plate / is most respectfully Dedicated by their most obedient humble servants / Printed & Sold by A. Doolittle New Haven where Engraving & Roling Press Printing is performed". Printed in the bottom-right corner of the sheet: "Dolittle dellin. en signe".

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