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Charles Willson Peale painted several portraits of George Washington, the first of which was completed in 1772. Peale, a soldier in the War of Independence, was commissioned to paint Washington on multiple occasions, including by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in 1779. This resulted in the painting George Washington at Princeton, which now hangs in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Peale's portraits of Washington span two decades of his life, from his colonial military career to his presidency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Charles Willson Peale |
| Subject | George Washington |
| Number of Portraits | 7 |
| Years Active | 1772-1795 |
| Portrait Locations | Princeton, Trenton, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, State House, Independence Hall, Peale's Museum, The Met, The Pennsylvania Academy |
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What You'll Learn
- Charles Willson Peale painted at least five portraits of George Washington
- Peale's first portrait of Washington was in 1772
- Peale's 1779 George Washington at Princeton was commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
- Washington's wife, Martha, commissioned a portrait of her husband to accompany her own
- Peale's portraits of Washington spanned two decades of his life
Charles Willson Peale painted at least five portraits of George Washington
In 1776, at the height of the Revolutionary War, Peale painted another portrait of Washington, who was then Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. This was the first of at least four more portrait sittings with the future first president.
In 1779, Peale was commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania to paint a portrait of Washington for the Council Chamber. This was a tremendous success, and Peale completed numerous copies for royal palaces abroad. The original full-length version now hangs in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Peale's "George Washington at Princeton" (1779) was commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Philadelphia to commemorate the American victory in the battles of Princeton and Trenton. Replicas were in demand even before the portrait was finished, and the original work hung in the State House (now Independence Hall).
Charles Willson Peale was an artist, inventor, naturalist, museum proprietor, co-founder of the Pennsylvania Academy, and patriarch of an artistic dynasty. He was also a soldier in the War of Independence, rising to the rank of Captain.
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Peale's first portrait of Washington was in 1772
Charles Willson Peale painted his first portrait of George Washington in 1772. Peale, who was also a soldier in the War of Independence, is known for his artistic accomplishments as a painter, inventor, naturalist, and museum proprietor. He painted a total of seven portraits of Washington, spanning two decades of his life, from his colonial military career in 1772 to the later years of his presidency in 1795.
The 1772 portrait, titled "George Washington as Colonel in the Virginia Regiment," was commissioned by Martha Washington, George Washington's wife. It was intended to be a companion piece to the 1757 portrait of her by John Wollaston, completed during her first marriage. The portrait was painted at Mount Vernon and hung in the Front Parlor there from 1772 to 1802, alongside other family portraits.
Peale's 1772 portrait is a highly evocative piece that commemorates Washington's complicated past. It acknowledges his loyal military service and valour during the French and Indian War, as well as his status at the time as a retired, successful, middle-aged gentleman planter. After the Washingtons' deaths, the portrait was inherited by George Washington Parke Custis of Arlington House.
In 1779, Peale received another significant commission for a portrait of George Washington. On January 18, 1779, the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania passed a resolution to commission a portrait of Washington for the Council Chamber and selected Peale as the artist. This portrait, known as "George Washington at Princeton," depicted Washington as the Commander-in-Chief, with prisoners of war and Princeton College visible in the background. The original full-length version is now in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and Peale completed numerous copies for royal palaces abroad.
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Peale's 1779 George Washington at Princeton was commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
Charles Willson Peale's painting "George Washington at Princeton" was indeed commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in 1779. The painting depicts Washington after the Battle of Princeton, which took place on January 3, 1777, and celebrates his victory. This early win against the British and Hessian mercenaries boosted American morale and renewed confidence in the Revolutionary War effort. Peale, who was also a soldier in the War of Independence, rose to the rank of Captain and actively contributed to the American cause.
The original painting, a full-length version, is currently housed in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and was completed in early 1779. Washington sat for Peale in Philadelphia, and the painting was commissioned for the Council Chamber in Independence Hall. Peale's work was a tremendous success, and he received numerous requests for replicas even before its completion. He created at least 25 replicas between 1779 and 1781, with some variation in size and background, but all featuring Washington in the same posture, leaning on a cannon with a horse and soldier in the background.
The painting holds historical significance as it captures Washington midway through the Revolution as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, signified by the blue sash he wears. The background includes prisoners of war and Princeton College, with Nassau Hall, where the battle concluded, also visible. The original "George Washington at Princeton" initially hung in the State House, now known as Independence Hall, before being moved to Peale's Museum and later to the Academy.
Peale's 1779 painting served as thematic inspiration for another artist, Charles Peale Polk, who created a similar work titled "George Washington at Princeton" in 1816. Polk's canvas also celebrates Washington's victory at Princeton and differs from Peale's work in several significant ways, reflecting their distinct relationships with the historic battle. Peale's painting is considered the original work and is a valuable piece of American history, having been sold for $21.3 million in 2006, setting a record at the time for the highest price paid for an American portrait.
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Washington's wife, Martha, commissioned a portrait of her husband to accompany her own
George Washington's wife, Martha Washington, commissioned a portrait of her husband to accompany her own, which was completed in 1757 by John Wollaston during her first marriage. The portrait of George Washington was painted by Charles Willson Peale at Mount Vernon in 1772 and is the earliest known portrait of him. Martha Washington's portrait by Wollaston and Washington's portrait by Peale hung together in the Front Parlor at Mount Vernon from 1772 to 1802, among other family portraits. Peale's portrait of Washington is a highly evocative piece that commemorates his military service and valor during the French and Indian War, while also acknowledging his status as a successful, middle-aged gentleman planter.
Martha Washington was the first First Lady of the United States and played a significant role in the country's early history. She accompanied her husband when operations were relocated to New York and returned to Mount Vernon each spring when conflict resumed. She was forced to take on the social role of the president's wife when her husband, George Washington, became the first president of the United States in 1789. Martha Washington was a national celebrity and associated with other prominent women of the time, such as Lucy Flucker Knox, the wife of War Secretary Henry Knox, and Abigail Adams, the second lady.
In addition to the portrait commissioned by Martha Washington, Charles Willson Peale also painted at least four other portraits of George Washington. One of these was "George Washington at Princeton" from 1779, which was commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania to commemorate the American victory in the battles of Princeton and Trenton. This portrait originally hung in the State House (now Independence Hall) and later in Peale's Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, also commissioned Charles Willson Peale to paint companion portraits of George and Martha Washington for his home. Peale was a soldier in the War of Independence, rising to the rank of Captain, and he continued to pursue his painting career during the war, executing miniature portraits.
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Peale's portraits of Washington spanned two decades of his life
Charles Willson Peale painted a total of seven portraits of George Washington, spanning two decades of his life. The first of these was painted in 1772, and the last in 1795, during Washington's presidency.
The 1772 portrait, commissioned by Martha Washington, depicts her husband as a Colonel in the Virginia Regiment. It hung in the Front Parlor at Mount Vernon from 1772 to 1802. Peale's painting commemorates Washington's military service during the French and Indian War, while also acknowledging his status as a retired, middle-aged, gentleman planter.
In 1776, Peale painted another portrait of Washington, this time in his role as Commander in Chief, a commission Washington received in 1775. This was followed by George Washington at Princeton in 1779, which was commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. This painting depicts Washington as Commander-in-Chief, with a blue sash, and prisoners of war and Princeton College in the background. Replicas of this portrait were in demand even before the original was finished.
Peale's portraits of Washington continued throughout his career as the first president of the United States, from 1789 to 1797, with the last portrait by Peale painted in 1795.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Charles Willson Peale painted at least four portraits of George Washington.
Charles Willson Peale painted his first portrait of George Washington in 1772.
The first portrait of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale is known as the Lansdowne Portrait.
The portraits of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
