View of the Birth-place of Washington
Date1834
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-5537/A-B
DescriptionPainting: A horizontal, rectangular landscape painting of George Washington’s birthplace in Westmoreland County, Virginia, an inlet on the Potomac River looking across to the Maryland shore. The foreground contains a single large tree to the left and darkened trees and bushes along the width of the composition before a broad swath of golden marsh grass. A house and two outbuildings are visible on the opposite side of the inlet to the left, and a clump of trees frames the composition on the right. The Maryland shore and a few trees are visible in the distance. Two-thirds of the composition is occupied by a dramatically lit sky, and the sun emerges from the opposite shore. Inscribed on back of canvas: “VIEW OF BIRTHPLACE OF WASHINGTON, 1834.” The inscription is covered by 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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1857/1859
c. 1867-1899
1844-1850
c. 1876
c. 1850-1865