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Peale, Rembrandt (1778-1860) George Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09119.01 Author/Creator: Peale, Rembrandt (1778-1860) Place Written: s.l. Type: Painting Date: 1852 circa Pagination: 1 art original : oil on canvas ; 108.5 x 90 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s):

Signed oil on canvas bust portrait of George Washington in military uniform. Wearing a gold collar and epaulets. One of Rembrandt Peale's porthole portraits of Washington with trompe-l'oeil stone frame that surrounds the bust. Painted for Enoch Dean. With letter of Peale commenting on this painting. See GLC 9119.02. Gold frame.

Rembrandt Peale first painted Washington from life in 1795. He repeatedly attempted to produce another portrait that would become the main likeness by which posterity would know Washington. In 1823 he finally painted one that fulfilled his expectations. The result was the original version of this portrait, called the "Patriae Pater." The portrait was a composite based on his 1795 portrait and other images of Washington he admired, including Jean-Antoine Houdon's bust. By the time Peale died in 1860, he had produced at least 79 paintings of Washington, which became known as the porthole portraits.

Peale, Rembrandt, 1778-1860
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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