Tomb of Washington
Date1834
Artist
John Gadsby Chapman
(American, 1808 - 1889)
DimensionsOverall (Framed): 24 1/2 in. × 31 7/8 in. × 1 3/4 in. (62.23 cm × 80.96 cm × 4.45 cm)
Credit LineAcquired through the generosity of Lucy S. Rhame and an anonymous donor, 2017
Conservation courtesy of The Founders, Washington Committee Endowment Fund
Object numberH-5535/A-B
DescriptionPainting: A horizontal, rectangular landscape painting of the old tomb at Mount Vernon, surrounded by a dense forest with the Potomac River in the left background. The brick walled and vaulted tomb with weathered wooden door is set into the hillside and centers the composition; it is bathed in sunlight. The foreground is occupied by a single large tree with exposed roots on the right and a smaller tree on the left. A path through the forest on the left frames a ship with two sails on the river.Inscribed on reverse of canvas: “TOMB OF WASHINGTON, drawn on the spot by J. G. CHAPMAN.” The inscription is covered by lining canvas but copied in ink on the back of the lining canvas and preserved on a jelly label glued to the stretcher.
Frame: Original gilded frame with flat stepped profile in the Greek Revival style. Three steps descend towards the narrow sight edge and the painting. The frame is composed of two parts, a frame and a liner, assembled with mitered joints. The outside edges of the frame are painted yellow/brown.
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c. 1850-1865
1839
1753-1756