Life of Washington - The Soldier
Label Text
This 1854 lithograph depicts Washington leading troops during the British loss to French and Native American troops at the Battle of Monongahela (July 9, 1755). French lithographer Claude Regnier’s source was Washington as Captain in the French & Indian War, produced by Junius Brutus Stearns as part of his series of five history paintings of Washington’s life, completed from 1849–1856.
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Date1854
After
Junius Brutus Stearns
(American, 1810 - 1885)
Subject
George Washington
(American, 1732 - 1799)
Medium/TechniqueInk and watercolor on paper; hand-colored lithograph
DimensionsOther: 36 3/4 in. × 30 3/4 in. (93.35 cm × 78.11 cm)
Credit LineGift of James Gibby, 2018
Object numberM-5705
DescriptionAt the viewer’s right-hand side of the scene, George Washington, mounted on a white horse, points his sword to the viewer’s left, leading British troops forward. Behind him, uniformed soldiers stand at attention. To Washington’s proper right, an officer, presumably General Edward Braddock, falls backward into the arms of two men, his arms outstretched in a Christ-like posture. A hat, gun, and sword—presumably Braddock’s—lie near his feet. On the viewer’s left side of the scene, soldiers in frontier garb fire at enemies, most out of frame. In the foreground, a wounded or dead Native American lies prone on the ground. In the background is a forested landscape with additional shadowy troops and a rearing horse.MarkingsPrinted in ink below the bottom-left corner of the image: "Painted by Stearns".
Printed in ink below the bottom-right corner of the image: "Lith by Regnier Imp. Lemercier, Paris".
Printed in ink below the image, centered: "Life of George Washington / The Soldier / Goupil & Co. / New York, Paris, London, Berlin".
Printed in ink on the bottom-right corner of the print sheet: "During the whole pf the bastle of Monogahela Col. Washington behaved with the greatest / courage. "By the all powerfull dispensations of providence." Said he in a letter to his brother. "I have been / protected beyong all human probability or expectation, for I had four bullets through my coat and two hor-/ses shot under me, yet I escaped unhurt, although death was levelling my companions on every side of me." / Sparks, Life of Washington".
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c. 1850-1865
1832-1835
