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George Washington

National Portrait Gallery

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Object Details

Artist
William Clarke, active 1785 - 1806
Sitter
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799
Exhibition Label
Born Westmoreland County, Virginia
George Washington’s death on December 14, 1799, caused an outpouring of national grief. Among the funeral orations, memorial poems, songs, and visual images inspired by his demise is this equestrian portrait by William Clarke, which refers to his military and presidential achievements. Washington was also known for his skilled horsemanship. As Thomas Jefferson recalled in an 1814 letter, Washington was “the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback.”
This likeness is based on Gilbert Stuart’s “Atheneum” 1796 portrait of 1796, which was well known through replicas and engravings. The artist, William Clarke, worked in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and in Maryland before moving to Philadelphia around 1796. There he was associated with a group of artists specializing in ornamental painting, portraiture, and the decoration of drums and banners.
Provenance
Unknown before acquisition by Charles Harry Foster (1914 – 2008) and his wife, Eleanor Morein Foster, in 1994 or earlier.
Credit Line
Gift of Eleanor Morein Foster in memory of Charles Harry Foster; National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
1800
Object number
NPG.2012.90
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 77.5 × 64.8 × 1.9cm (30 1/2 × 25 1/2 × 3/4")
Frame: 95.7 × 82.7 × 7cm (37 11/16 × 32 9/16 × 2 3/4")
Place
United States\Pennsylvania\Philadelphia
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Nature & Environment\Animal\Horse
Costume\Headgear\Hat\Tricorne
Costume\Dress Accessory\Epaulet
Symbols & Motifs\Flag\National\United States
Weapon\Cannon
Music\Musical instrument\Drum
George Washington: Male
George Washington: Military\Army\Officer\Revolution
George Washington: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial Statesman
George Washington: Natural Resources\Agriculturist\Farmer
George Washington: Military\Army\Officer\General
George Washington: Politics and Government\President of US
George Washington: Science and Technology\Engineer\Surveyor
George Washington: Congressional Gold Medal
Portrait
Record ID
npg_NPG.2012.90
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm44bb88b08-c186-4be7-9a38-f95cff2a933a

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This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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