George Washington Esq.r.

• Price: $3,500.00
  

  SKU: 103945

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• ARTIST: Gilbert Stuart

• PUBLISHER: London. Published by P. Fische, April 10th 1801.

• MEDIUM: Mezzotint.

  DATE: 1801

• EDITION SIZE: Plate size 13 7/8 x 9 15/16" (35.3 x 25.2 cm)

• DESCRIPTION: A rare mezzotint portrait of the late President.<br><br> Painted by C. G. Stuart. Engraved by James Fisher.<br> Title continues with: From the Original Picture in Possession of J. Sebn. De Franca Esqr. of Devonshire Square, London."<br><br> A finely engraved portrait of George Washington, after the famous Gilbert Stuart Athenaeum type portrait. Washington is shown in half-length, with the left side of his face exposed, set in an engraved rectangular frame. Stuart painted three famous portraits of the President: the first in 1795 known as the “Vaughan” portrait, after an early owner; the second, known as the “Lansdowne”, shows Washington in full length; and the third, an uncompleted bust portrait showing the left side of his face, referred to as the “Athenaeum” type portrait. Gilbert Stuart wanted to paint Washington, for he expected that he could make a "fortune" on images of the Revolutionary War hero and first President. At the time the president sat for Stuart, the artist apparently tried to relax his sitter, offering, "Now, sir, you must let me forget that you are General Washington and that I am Stuart, the painter," to which the president responded, “Mr. Stuart need never feel the need for forgetting who he is and who General Washington is.” After Stuart's initial portrait of Washington, he made more than one hundred copies for American and European patrons eager to own an image of the illustrious sitter.<br> Stuart painted three variants: a waist-length “Vaughan” version showing the right side of Washington's face; the “Athenaeum” type displaying the left side; and a full-length or Landsdowne type.<br><br> Little is known of “J. Sebn. De Franca” of Devonshire Square of whom owned that painting which this this print was taken from. He must have been a major supporter of the American Cause.

• ADDITIONAL INFO:

• CONDITION: Good condition save for a short tear and crease in the lower left margin.

• REFERENCE: Hart #375; Baker #225

• CATEGORIES: 18th-19th Century Subjects , Portraits , George Washington