Pater Patriae

Status

Not on view

Label Text

(Re:discovery Exhibition) "Surrounding Washington's image are the allegorical figures of Columbia, Minerva, Mars, Fame, Liberty, and Truth. The war veteran in the foreground represents the "grief of all the army of American for the loss of their beloved General and Commander in Chief"."

"Pater Patriae

Etching and engraving by Enoch G. Gridley (active ca. 1803-1813) after John Coles Jr. and Edward Savage (1761-1817), each American; ca. 1800

According to a contemporary broadside, this print memorialized "the great and noble Deeds of the Father of His Country". The woman near the lower-left corner was described as representing "the Grief of all America" upon George Washington's death.

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley DeForest Scott, 1985

Object #: RP-440; SC-2"

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Date1800-1805

After John Coles Jr. (American, active c.1780 - 1800)

After Edward Savage (American, 1761 - 1817)

Engraver Enoch Gridley (American, active c. 1803 - 1818)

Subject George Washington (American, 1732 - 1799)

Geography Possibly made - United StatesProbably made - United States

Medium/TechniqueInk on paper; stipple engraving, etching.

DimensionsImage (H x W): 12 13/16 in. × 8 13/16 in. (32.54 cm × 22.38 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley DeForest Scott, 1985

Object numberSC-2

DescriptionThis print is an image of a memorial dedicated to George Washington. It depicts a pyramidal monument, surrounded by allegorical figures. On top of the memorial is an urn and two cherubs, one holding a pole with a Liberty cap, the other holding a mirror, and both supporting a garland of laurels. Below them is Fame, a figure with wings holding a trumpet to its mouth with a banner hanging from it. With her other hand she holds a laurel wreath that surrounds the inscription on the memorial. To the right of fame is a cherub holding Athena's aegis, while just below, Athena holds up a full bust portrait of Washington. To the left of the portrait is another cherub holding a helm, with a cannon, drums and cannonballs visible next to him. Below the cherub sits America, whose head is turned away from the rest of the scene, while one hand extends to point at the plaque at the bottom of the engraving. In the foreground stands a soldier weeping, with his musket laid on the ground.
Published ReferencesWendy Wick, George Washington: An American Icon, (Washington D.C.: The Smithsonian Institution, 1982), 151.

Charles Henry Hart, Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington (New York: Grolier Club of the City of New York, 1904), 104-105.

William Spohn Baker, The Engraved Portraits of Washington with Notices of the Originals and Brief Biographical Sketches of the Painters (Philadelphia: Lindsay & Baker, 1880), 190.

MarkingsPrinted in ink on the banner held by Fame: "Trenton / Princetown / Monmouth / Yorktown." Printed in ink on the memorial above portrait: "Pater Patriae." Printed in ink below the portrait: "Sacred to the Memory of the / truly Illustrious / George Washington, Renowed in / War, Great in the Senate, and / possessed of every Qualification / to render him worthy the Title of / a Great and Good Man / Born Feb. 22. 1732. Ob. Dec. 14, 1799." Printed in ink below the bottom-left corner of the image: "Painted by John Coles jun." Printed in ink below the bottom-right corner of the image: "Engd. by E. G. Gridley."

Mount Vernon's object research is ongoing and information about this object is subject to change. For information on image use and reproductions, click here.

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