View from the Site of the Old Mansion of the Washington Family
Date1833
Artist
John Gadsby Chapman
(American, 1808 - 1889)
DimensionsOverall (Framed): 24 3/8 in. × 31 7/8 in. × 1 3/4 in. (61.91 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-5536/A-B
DescriptionPainting: A horizontal, rectangular landscape painting of the site of Ferry Farm looking across the Rappahannock River to Fredericksburg. The foreground is the top of a knoll with darkened foliage and a rubble foundation representing the site of the Washington home to the right. At the center of the composition is a flat boat and man on a horse framed by clumps of trees on either side. The trees are changing color, indicating the beginning of fall. The town is visible in the distance with several ships docked on the left and a bridge on the right. Two-thirds of the composition is occupied by a dramatically lit sky with the sun emerging from cloud cover. Inscribed on back of canvas: “VIEW FROM THE OLD MANSION HOUSE OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA., drawn on the spot by J. G. CHAPMAN, 1833.” The inscription is covered by a lining canvas but copied on a jelly label attached 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. 1867-1899
19th-20th Century
c. 1850-1865
1858-1860
c. 1876