George Washington
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Object Label
Over the course of his career, Gilbert Stuart painted approximately a hundred portraits of George Washington, including four versions (three of which are original replicas) now known as the “Lansdowne” portrait (named after the painting’s first owner). Although the grandiose scale and setting are typical of eighteenth-century European aristocratic portraiture, other allegorical elements allude to the formation of the young republic. Representing Washington in civilian clothing and with his arm outstretched in an oratorical pose, Stuart also included details such as the Great Seal of the United States; a sword and books, such as Constitution and Laws of the United States, that are symbolic of the first president’s military and political accomplishments; as well as a rainbow that refers to the era of peace following the Revolutionary War.
This portrait was owned by the New York merchant William Kerin Constable, who, like Washington, benefited from the institution of slavery while also expressing abolitionist sentiments. Once on view in the family home in nearby Brooklyn Heights, the portrait passed down through Constable’s descendants before it came into the Brooklyn Museum’s collection in 1945.
Caption
Gilbert Stuart American, 1755–1828. George Washington, 1796. Oil on canvas, 96 1/4 x 60 1/4 in. (244.5 x 153 cm) frame: 114 1/4 x 78 1/4 x 6 in. (290.2 x 198.8 x 15.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund and Museum Purchase Fund, 45.179. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 45.179_PS11.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Title
George Washington
Date
1796
Medium
Oil on canvas
Classification
Dimensions
96 1/4 x 60 1/4 in. (244.5 x 153 cm) frame: 114 1/4 x 78 1/4 x 6 in. (290.2 x 198.8 x 15.2 cm)
Signatures
Unsigned
Credit Line
Dick S. Ramsay Fund and Museum Purchase Fund
Accession Number
45.179
Rights
No known copyright restrictions
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Frequent Art Questions
When was he president?
Washington was the first president of the United States from 1789–1797. This portrait was made at the end of his second term, after he declined the offer of a third term.Is the Athenaeum painting by Gilbert Stuart here? The one of Washington used on the dollar bill?
We do have a Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington on view, but it is not the one that inspired by picture on the dollar bill.The painting that the dollar bill is based on is an unfinished portrait that is owned jointly by the National Portrait Gallery in D.C. and the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. Stuart never completed it, but he used it as the basis of many other portraits of Washington. Washington died in 1799, three years after the portrait was painted.Nice timing, I found George Washington.
You may know this already but this is one of the Stuart's "Lansdowne portraits" of Washington. The first one in the series hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.I didn't know that, cool. I'm from Australia and have a limited knowledge of American history, actually.Oh! Well, this is an iconic portrait of Washington. The painting is full of symbolism, drawn from both American and ancient Roman symbols of the Roman Republic (because the U.S. was trying to build up its reputation as a new nation at the time by connecting to older empires). You can see the columns from the table cloth being pulled up. Washington's suit is plain and simple, and the sword that he holds on his left side is a dress sword and not a battle sword, symbolizing a democratic form of government, rather than a monarchy or military dictatorship. In the sky, storm clouds appear on the left while a rainbow appears on the right, signifying the American Revolutionary War giving way to the peace and prosperity of the new United States after the 1783 Treaty of Paris. The medallion at the top of the chair shows the red, white, and blue colors of the American flag.That is great information, thanks. Australia has used similar methods in its architecture to incorporate Greek and Roman symbols. Rather than embracing indigenous peoples and history, the colonial government decided to try and build the nation's history by associating with European culture.I feel like that happens across so many cultures and it is such a shame. Maybe someday the processes will be different as we move further and further away from those ancient histories.Agreed, I'm leaving the Museum now. So, thanks to you and your team for making my Brooklyn Museum experience more engaging and insightful :)We are so happy you enjoyed the app and we had fun chatting with you! Thanks again for trying it out and enjoy the rest of your day.Why is there a rainbow in the corner of the painting?
Washington is surrounded with allegorical emblems of his public life in the service of his country, which are highly illustrative of the great and tremendous storms which have frequently prevailed. These storms have abated, and the appearance of the rainbow is introduced in the background as a sign. It is a symbol of the peace after the storm of the Revolution.Interesting! Was that a commonly used symbol at the time?Yes, it was used as a symbol of peace and a symbol of calm, joy or even celebration at that time. It was a reference to the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark, and the calm and renewal that came after the flood.Thanks!You're welcome!What are the books under the table next to Washington?
The books underneath the table, including one titled The Constitution and Laws of the United States, refer to American history and politics. Washington wanted to show that he was a learned man, despite having limited formal education like most men in his high political position. His father had died when he was young, and the family couldn't send him to school. He was mostly self-taught.I saw this portrait of George Washington also in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. So is the portrait here painted by the same person? Are they the same work of art?
Gilbert Stuart did paint multiple versions of this portrait of George Washington, and one of them is at the National Portrait Gallery! This format is known as Stuart's "Lansdowne" portrait of Washington. Washington posed for Stuart in 1795 and 1796, when he was President. He was 63 at the time.The one in the National Portrait Gallery is Stuart's very first version of this full-length portrait of Washington, and then he made copies of it for other clients.Why is he pointing at the ground?
I believe it's just the way he is holding his sword, which is a ceremonial sword, more for symbolism and status than for actual use.His right hand does have a specific meaning though, it's an "oratorical" gesture, showing that he is about to speak. In fact, many of the objects in that portrait are symbolic and have meanings related to Washington's career and accomplishments!How many sittings would they do for portrait like this?
George Washington sat for Gilbert Stuart twice, in 1795 and 1796. All of Stuart's successive portraits of Washington are based on these sittings.Is the Gilbert Stuart's "George Washington" an original? How many iterations of this picture are there?
Hi! Washington posed personally for Stuart in 1795 and 1796, while he was still president. Stuart produced three different portraits of Washington , each of Stuart then re-copied many times. The Brooklyn Museum's portrait is a copy of the first so-called Landsdowne portrait, which is now at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.The painting is full of symbolism, drawn from both American and ancient Roman symbols of the Roman Republic. The United States was trying to build its reputation by evoking older empires. You can see Washington's sword is a dress sword, not a battle sword, symbolizing democratic government rather than a monarchy or military dictatorship.Thank you!I can't believe I'm seeing this iconic painting in real life! It's enormous!
Hi! It's a crowd favorite, that's for sure! This painting is based on sketches that Stuart made when Washington posed for him in person. You can really see the ideals of the new nation represented here in symbols like the rainbow, for the promise and hope of a new era, and the books under the table, which are the Constitution and other key documents.Tell me more.
The first portrait of Washington is known as the Lansdowne Portrait. Stuart's Athenaeum Portrait is the basis for the $1 bill. This second portrait is from much earlier in Washington's career, when he was still a general.Washington famously hated sitting for portraits. He sat for a few artists, including Stuart and Peale, out of a sense of duty.
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