Artwork
Portrait Panel of George Washington
Portrait Panel of George Washington is a wood painting. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is a circular portrait panel depicting a man in a military uniform, rendered in black and white.
About this work
Technique & Style
The Portrait Panel of George Washington is executed on a wooden support rather than canvas, with the medium described as linden, holly, sycamore, or harewood, an unusual choice of fine hardwoods for portraiture. The work is classified as a portrait panel within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing holdings, suggesting a small-scale, intimate format consistent with panel painting traditions of the late eighteenth century. No further details regarding specific pigments, gilding, carving, marquetry technique, surface handling, or current condition are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The medium consists of layered wood, identified as linden, holly, sycamore, or harewood, a technique associated with early American portraiture of the period.
The Portrait Panel of George Washington entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as accession 47.137.7. The panel is attributed to an unknown artist and dated to circa 1780. The medium consists of layered wood, identified as linden, holly, sycamore, or harewood, a technique associated with early American portraiture of the period.
The work’s early provenance remains undocumented, and no direct commission record has been identified in the available sources.
The Portrait Panel of George Washington is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The work is cataloged under the accession number 47.137.7 and is classified within the museum's American Wing. No specific exhibition history is recorded in the provided sources.
Overview
The work is a circular portrait panel depicting a man in a military uniform, rendered in black and white. He is shown with short hair, a jacket featuring epaulets, and a scarf around his neck, set against a backdrop that includes a tent positioned behind his left shoulder. The panel is framed in an aged, worn frame and is part of the American Wing collection.
Subject & Meaning
The figure represented is George Washington, presented in a formal military attire that emphasizes his role as commander. The inclusion of the tent suggests a field or campaign setting, reinforcing his leadership in wartime and the practical aspects of his service.
Context
Created during a period when Romantic sensibilities were influencing American visual culture, the panel reflects a broader interest in heroic portraiture and national identity. The use of native woods for the support connects the work to local material traditions of the early United States.
Legacy
As a visual representation of Washington, the panel contributes to the enduring iconography of the first president, offering a glimpse into 19th‑century approaches to commemorating foundational figures through intimate, panel-sized works.
Artist & collection
