George Washington

Status

Not on view

Label Text

This cabinet-sized panel painting is related to an Edward Savage portrait of George Washington commissioned for Harvard University. Washington sat for Savage on 21 December 1789 “at the request of the President and Governors” of the University. The resulting portrait was reproduced in print form by the artist himself in London in 1792, an act that proved very lucrative, and by at least twelve other engravers. One of the engravings likely served as the source for this painting.

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Date1800-1900

After Edward Savage (American, 1761 - 1817)

Subject George Washington (American, 1732 - 1799)

Geography Possibly made - United States

Medium/TechniqueOil on wood panel; carved gilt wood (most likely pine), glass

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D Framed): 8 1/16 in. × 7 1/16 in. × 1 1/4 in. (20.48 cm × 17.94 cm × 3.18 cm) Other (H x W Image): 4 3/16 in. × 3 5/16 in. (10.64 cm × 8.41 cm)

Credit LineAcquired through the generosity of C. Thomas Clagett, Jr., 1999 Conservation courtesy of Jacqueline B. Mars

Object numberM-4097/A-B

DescriptionOval, bust-length portrait of George Washington, three-quarters turned, and gazing to the (proper) left. He wears a dark blue Continental army uniform with buff-colored facings and waistcoat, gold buttons and epaulettes, and white stock and jabot. His powdered hair is worn ‘en queue’ and tied with a black ribbon. A Society of the Cincinnati badge appears in the (proper right) lapel. Two large coat buttons are visible, one on each lapel. Of the nine small waistcoat buttons, the bottom 4 are buttoned.

The ground is polychromatic with blue sky and clouds.

The miniature is framed in a period (likely original) gilt wood frame with a gilt wood spandrel. The back and inner edge of the frame are beaded. A backing of Coroplast has been attached to the reverse of the frame.
Published ReferencesCarol Borchert Cadou, The George Washington Collection: Fine and Decorative Arts at Mount Vernon (New York: Hudson Hills Press, 2006), 101.

Dresser, Louisa. "Edward Savage, 1761-1817." Art in America XL. Autumn (1952): 157-212. (General Reference)

John H. Morgan and Mantle Fielding, The Life Portraits of Washington (Philadephia: Morgan and Fielding, 1931), 180-186. (General Reference)

Charles Henry Hart, "Edward Savage, Painter and Engraver." Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society (1905): 3-21. (General Reference)

Charles Henry Hart, Caatalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington (New York: The Grolier Club, 1904). (General Reference)

Charles Henry Hart: “Life Portraits of George Washington,” McClure’s Magazine VIII: 4 (February 1897): 291-308. (General Reference)

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