Artwork
George Washington
George Washington is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Rembrandt Peale. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by a later hand, lower left: Rembrandt Peal[e]
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait, the work falls within the genre of formal portraiture, reflecting Peale's established approach to depicting the first president.
Rembrandt Peale's 1850 portrait of George Washington is executed in oil on canvas. The painting measures 91.5 by 73.3 centimeters. As a portrait, the work falls within the genre of formal portraiture, reflecting Peale's established approach to depicting the first president.
The canvas support and oil medium are standard for the artist's period and practice. While specific brushwork and condition details are not documented in the provided sources, the classification and materials align with Peale's well-known repeated explorations of Washington's likeness throughout his career.
History & Provenance
Created in 1850 by Rembrandt Peale, this oil-on-canvas portrait of George Washington was originally acquired by Henry Ward Sill, a New York merchant, directly from the artist. Following Sill's death in 1857, the work passed to his sister, Sarah Hubbard Sill, in Middletown, Connecticut, before descending to his daughter, Sophia Matilda Sill Burt, in Hartford. It subsequently entered the possession of Sophia's niece, Harriet Sill Baldwin Davison, who resided in Greenwich, Connecticut.
In 1942, Harriet Davison gifted the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The provenance chain was documented by her husband, George W. Davison, who supplied the ownership history to the gallery at the time of the donation.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., with accession number 1942.7.1. It entered the collection in 1942 as a gift from Harriet Sill Baldwin Davison, having descended through the Sill and Davison families from its original owner, Henry Ward Sill, who acquired it directly from the artist. The work has not been loaned for temporary exhibitions since its acquisition by the gallery, and its exhibition history prior to 1942 is not documented in the cited sources.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, created around 1850 by Rembrandt Peale, presents a formal portrait of George Washington. The artist aimed to capture the likeness of the nation's first president, rendering him with a dignified and composed demeanor. The work exemplifies a traditional approach to portraiture prevalent in the mid-19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts George Washington in a formal pose, conveying a sense of authority and quiet strength. Dressed in period attire, his serious expression and composed bearing contribute to an image of a calm and capable leader. Peale's portrayal emphasizes Washington's enduring public persona as a figure of national stability.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Peale (February 22, 1778 – October 3, 1860) was an American artist and museum keeper.
