George Washington (Lansdowne Portrait)
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Object type: Painting
Date: 1796
Artist: Gilbert Stuart, 3 Dec 1755 - 9 Jul 1828
Sitter: George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799
Place: United States/Pennsylvania/Franklin/Germantown
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 247.6 × 158.7 cm (97 1/2 × 62 1/2")
Frame: 283.5 × 194.3 × 17.8 cm (111 5/8 × 76 1/2 × 7")
Credit line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; acquired as a gift to the nation through the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Business and Finance
Books and reading
Papers
Natural resources commerce
Quill
Home Furnishings
Carpet
Eagles
Armchairs
Printed Material
Design
Colonial statesman
Weapons
Inkstand
Statesman
Chairs
Swords
Column
Seating
Rainbow
Military and Intelligence
Tables
American Revolution (1775-1783)
Public officers
Presidents
Nature
Congressional Gold Medal
Interior with Exterior View
Farmers
Architecture
Government
Interior decoration
Birds
Portraits
Ecology
Civilian awards
Drafting & Writing Implements
Furnishings
Science and Technology
Animals
Agriculturists
Surveyors
Men
Politics
Writing table
Pens
Officer
Exhibition Label: First president, 1789–1797
George Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States. Before his election, he fought in the French and Indian War, commanded troops to victory in the Revolutionary War, and presided over the Constitutional Convention. As president, he installed the Supreme Court, proclaimed neutrality in the war between Britain and France, and suppressed the tax protest known as the Whiskey Rebellion. After serving two terms, Washington declined to run again. In his farewell address, he told the nation, “The name of AMERICAN, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism.”
The American artist Gilbert Stuart drew from European traditions of state portraiture to evoke Washington’s leadership. The painting includes direct references to the newly formed United States, such as the bald eagle carved into the table leg. Washington’s pose is believed to allude to his annual address infront of Congress in December 1795. Stuart completed replicas of the image, which spread rapidly through popular engravings.
Primer presidente, 1789–1797
George Washington fue elegido por unanimidad como primer presidente de Estados Unidos. Antes de esto participó en la Guerra Franco-Indígena, comandó las tropas hacia la victoria en la Guerra de Independencia y presidió la Convención Constitucional. Durante su mandato instauró el Tribunal Supremo, proclamó la neutralidad de EE.UU. en la guerra entre Gran Bretaña y Francia, y sofocó la protesta fiscal conocida como la Rebelión del Whisky. Luego de dos términos, Washington declinó postularse de nuevo. En su discurso de despedida a la nación, dijo: “El nombre de AMERICANOS, que les pertenece en su carácter nacional, debe siempre exaltar el justo orgullo patriótico”.
El artista estadounidense Gilbert Stuart se inspiró en las convenciones de los retratos oficiales europeos para denotar el liderato de Washington. La pintura incluye referencias directas a la recién formada nación, tales como el águila calva tallada en la pata de la mesa. Se cree que la pose de Washington alude a su discurso anual ante el Congreso en diciembre de 1795. Stuart hizo réplicas de la imagen, que pronto se difundieron mediante grabados populares.
Provenance: Commissioned by Senator William Bingham and his wife Anne Willing Bingham as a gift for William Petty, Lord Shelburne, the first Marquess of Lansdowne (died 1805); purchased in March, 1806 at the sale of the Marquess' estate by American merchant Samuel Williams; purchased in 1827 by John Delaware Lewis; after his death in 1841, owned by his son, John Delaware Lewis; Herman LeRoy Lewis; purchased in May 1889 by Archibald Philip Primrose, fifth Earl of Rosebery; by family descent to Lord Harry Dalmeny; purchased 2001 NPG.
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