Artwork
George Washington
George Washington is a watercolor painting by the American Impressionist artist James Peale. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work in the portrait genre, the miniature represents Washington not merely as a man, but as a specific historical individual.
James Peale's 1782 watercolor-on-ivory portrait features George Washington as its primary subject. As a work in the portrait genre, the miniature represents Washington not merely as a man, but as a specific historical individual. Accompanying the central figure of the first president is the iconographic motif of an eagle.
In the context of early American portraiture, the inclusion of this bird serves as a potent national symbol, intrinsically linking Washington's identity and leadership to the fledgling republic. The combination of the portrait with the eagle elevates the work's meaning beyond a simple likeness, transforming the depiction of a man into a representation of American civic virtue and statehood.
Technique & Style
James Peale's 1782 portrait of George Washington is a miniature executed in watercolor on an ivory support. Measuring 3.8 cm in height and 2.5 cm in width, the work's intimate scale and medium are characteristic of miniature portraiture. Stylistically, the composition functions as a formal portrait that incorporates symbolic elements; alongside the depiction of a man, the imagery features an eagle, serving as a prominent iconographic motif within the compact pictorial space.
The precise handling of the watercolor medium on the smooth ivory surface would have required meticulous, fine brushwork to achieve the necessary detail and tonal gradations for both the human likeness and the accompanying allegorical attributes.
History & Provenance
James Peale created the watercolor on ivory portrait of George Washington in 1782. The work measures 3.8 by 2.5 inches and depicts the subject alongside an eagle. While the specific commission details and the immediate chain of private ownership prior to its arrival at a major institution are not detailed in the available records, the painting is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The museum accessioned the piece in 2006 under the catalog number 2006.235.326, classifying it within its American Wing collection. The creation date is firmly established as 1782.
The portrait of George Washington by James Peale, painted in 1782, is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Its accession number is 2006.235.326, under which it is catalogued in the museum’s collection. The work belongs to the American Wing and has been on view there as part of the museum’s permanent display of early American portraiture.
It has also been included in special exhibitions of American portraiture at the Met, though specific exhibition titles are not detailed in the available records.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts George Washington in a formal presentation. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the work captures the first president with a composed demeanor, dressed in a military uniform. It offers a glimpse into early American portraiture, reflecting the era's aesthetic preferences for capturing prominent figures. The painting is housed within the American Wing, signifying its importance to the nation's artistic heritage.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Peale (1749 – May 24, 1831) was an American painter, best known for his miniature and still life paintings, and a younger brother of noted painter Charles Willson Peale.
