Artwork
George Washington
George Washington is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Rembrandt Peale. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by a later hand reproducing the original signature, lower right: Painted by Rembrandt Peale from Pine's Washington
About this work
George Washington sits in a chair in old-fashioned clothes with a serious look. Rembrandt Peale attended to details like the folds of the cloth and the books on the table. Painted in 1859, it's a later likeness, likely drawn from earlier portraits.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents George Washington as a dignified leader, rendered in a three‑quarter length pose that emphasizes his stature.
The painting presents George Washington as a dignified leader, rendered in a three‑quarter length pose that emphasizes his stature. Rembrandt Peale’s 1859 oil on canvas combines realistic facial detail with a modest uniform, underscoring Washington’s role as commander‑in‑chief and symbol of republican virtue. The work’s composition, with the sitter positioned against a neutral background, focuses attention on his expression and the insignia of rank, reinforcing notions of authority and civic responsibility.
As recorded in the National Gallery of Art’s provenance, the piece was created as a likeness for public admiration and has remained a visual emblem of Washington’s enduring legacy.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt Peale's portrait of George Washington, executed in 1859, is an oil painting on canvas support. The work measures 76.5 centimeters in height and 63.5 centimeters in width. Classified as a portrait, the piece utilizes traditional oil paint media applied to a woven canvas ground.
The National Gallery of Art holds the painting as part of the Andrew W. Mellon collection, having received it as a gift in 1947. The description identifies the primary material composition simply as oil paint and canvas, without noting specific underpainting layers, varnish conditions, or distinct brushwork techniques in the available records. The formal presentation adheres to the conventions of portraiture, focusing on the depiction of the subject within these standard material constraints.
History & Provenance
The portrait of George Washington was painted by Rembrandt Peale in 1859, shortly before the artist’s death, as part of his late series of presidential likenesses. After Peale’s demise the work entered his estate and was sold at auction in November 1862 (no. 80) to Levi Taylor of Philadelphia; it remained in the Taylor family through his son John Dickson Taylor and daughter Alice Taylor Townsend until a 1922 sale to Thomas B. Clarke. Clarke’s collection later disposed of the painting through M. Knoedler & Co. in January 1936, after which it was acquired by the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust and gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1947.
Rembrandt Peale's 1859 oil-on-canvas portrait of George Washington is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as part of the Andrew W. Mellon Collection (accession number 1947.17.16). The painting remained in the artist's estate after his death and was sold at M. Thomas & Sons in Philadelphia on November 18, 1862 (lot 80). It subsequently passed to Levi Taylor of Philadelphia, then to his son John Dickson Taylor, and then to Taylor's daughter Alice Taylor Townsend.
It was offered again at the Stanislaus V. Henkels sale in Philadelphia on June 13, 1922 (lot 34), before being acquired by New York collector Thomas B. Clarke. After Clarke's death, the work was sold as part of his collection on January 29, 1936, through M. Knoedler & Co. to The A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust in Pittsburgh, which gifted it to the NGA in 1947.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, titled George Washington, was created by Rembrandt Peale in 1859. The work presents a formal portrait of the first U.S. President, George Washington. Peale's rendition captures Washington seated, offering a dignified and contemplative portrayal of the historical figure.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Peale (February 22, 1778 – October 3, 1860) was an American artist and museum keeper.
