Artwork
George Washington
George Washington is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on Washington's likeness without additional allegorical attributes, presenting him in a straightforward portrait format.
This 1848 watercolor on ivory portrait represents George Washington. Attributed to an anonymous painter, it is classified within The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition focuses on Washington's likeness without additional allegorical attributes, presenting him in a straightforward portrait format. As a posthumous image, it serves as a visual record of the subject within the museum's collection.
History & Provenance
The watercolor portrait of George Washington, dated 1848, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, attributed to an unknown artist, is classified within the museum's American Wing under accession number 97.8. While the available sources confirm the artwork's current location and inventory details, they do not provide records regarding past exhibitions or a detailed history of its display.
Overview
This diminutive portrait depicts George Washington rendered in watercolor on ivory. The artwork presents the first American president in profile, adorned in a dark coat and a white cravat. Its small scale and refined execution suggest a piece intended for close, personal viewing, characteristic of miniature painting.
Technique & Style
Executed with watercolor on a thin slip of ivory, the painting benefits from the medium's unique properties. Ivory, a delicate bone material, imparts a luminous quality to the painted surface, particularly enhancing the lifelike appearance of skin tones. The artwork's minuscule dimensions, small enough to be enclosed within a locket, exemplify the precision and detail characteristic of miniature portraiture.
Artist & collection
