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Description: | Engraving . This engraving after a portrait of George Washington by artist Gilbert Stuart shows the former American President standing in his office, wearing civilian clothes. Washington holds the Sword of State in his left hand, while his right arm is outstretched in the pose of a Roman Republican senator. The outstretched arm reaches over a table, upon which are books including the ‘Federalist’ and the ‘Journals of Congress’.
Engraved by James Heath, this work was made after the second of three portraits Stuart painted of Washington. The first, known as the Vaughan portrait because it is thought to have been commissioned by trader Samuel Vaughan, was painted in the autumn of 1795. The second is the original work from which this print was engraved; referred to as the Lansdowne portrait because it may have been painted for William Petty, first Marquess of Lansdowne after sittings in April 1796. The original is now in the National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC. Stuart’s third portrait of Washington, known as the Athenaeum portrait, was commissioned by the sitter’s wife. It was painted in 1796 and was later sold to the Boston Athenaeum library. It is now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. | Subjects: | George Washington breeches male portrait carpet table quill curtain stockings pen chair 18th century costume book column ink pot/ink stand President of the United States shoe coat sword | Temporal: | 1800 | Source: | Government Art Collection | Creator: | James Heath (Engraver) | Identifier: | http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?... | Go to resource |
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