George Washington
artist
David Edwin
(Bath, England, 1776 - 1841, Philadelphia)
after
Rembrandt Peale
(American, 1778 - 1860)
publisher
Henry Schenck Tanner
(American, 1786 - 1858)
subject
George Washington
(Westmoreland, Virginia, 1732 - 1799, Mount Vernon, Virginia)
Dateabout 1810
Place MadeUnited States, North America
MediumStipple engraving on wove paper
Dimensions40 x 32.4 cm (15 3/4 x 12 3/4 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberP17e27
eMuseum ID720566
EmbARK ObjectID12257
TMS Source ID1391
Last Updated8/9/24
Status
Not on viewWeb Commentary
The popularity of George Washington grew over the course of the 19th century. This print was made in about 1810 after a portrait of Washington by Rembrandt Peale.
When the United States observed the centennial of its founding in 1876 and the 100th anniversary of George Washington’s first inauguration as president in 1889, many Americans collected images of the “Father of the Country.” Isabella was no exception, and she displayed this print in the Short Gallery along side a portrait of Washington’s friend, Benjamin Franklin.
BibliographyNotesCharles H. Hart, "Catalogue of the engraved portraits of Washington," (New York: 1904), p. 294. no. 701b. (3rd state)
Anthony Amore, "Forge Washington," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 29 June 2021, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/forge-washington
Anthony Amore, "Forge Washington," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 29 June 2021, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/forge-washington
MarksNotes
Inscribed in plate (lower margin): R. Peale, Pinxt / Printed in Colours by H. Charles / D. Edwin Sculpt / GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON / Published by H.S. Tanner, Philadelphia
ProvenanceNotesEntered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection by 1915.
