Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-28
PORTRAITS OF WASHINGTON.
Rembrandt PeaIe's Account of How tho
First President Sat for His Father.


First President Sat for His Father.
Rembrandt Peale, the artist who painted
the famous, but horrible in It's subject and
suggestiveness, picture, The Court OF
DEATH" wasa son Of the also famous Charles
Wilson Peale, who painted from personal
sittings several portraits of Washington In
a recent interview he said: w Washington
gave sittings TO Stuart and my father at the
same time, and was often with him This
was when he was president-about l99+ He
sat for my father in the quiet early morning,
before his state toilet had been made, and
when be appeared 20 the eyes OF the charmed
observer simply as George Washington. the
man and citizen. He was then about G.
years old, and the tolls and trials which lie
had passed through SIS the commander OF the
army, and the quite as great cares Of SIX
years Of the presidency, added 20 the weight
Of increasing years, had told with no little
severity upon MS tall. stately and stiu inpos-
ing frame and features His somewhat thin
hair was gray; years and fears and cares
had all left traces On his face and his teeth
being gone, the lips and cheeks and Lines
about the mouth were somewhat depressed
and contracted NJ fathers portrait Of
him" repeated Mr. PeaIe, was exactly Of
Washington as he really was while he was
tie man only, and before he had prepared
himself as president, 70 enter upon his, more
especially then than now, arduoCls duties az
chief executive Of the grea. but very young
republic"
But why" it was asked, ''tke two por-
traits being painted al the same time, should
Stuarrs De % very unlike your fEther'sf1
Simply because" continued Psale, ''as
cave already stated Washington gave his
sitclngs 70 Stuart On the same day, but after
. careful preparation Of his Stair toilet; and
be was exceedingly, almost a1soerely rice Ii
al matters Of conventional dress scd dsport-
men. Indeed, tie remove from the manners
and customs Of Engiard's monarchy was 80
recent and 50 slight that che social stusos-
phers Of the White HOUSE partook largely q
the esiGuette Of the court, and tie expected
and pr2crioed department. Of the executive
chamber was IS formal IN degree As that
which had been necessary u order 20 lave
audience With tke king
lis state toilet. anorg ether things, IN (
ci1ded the careful conb.ng and povdering q /
the hair and the tying Of II IN . cue, also .
discreet make u1S Of the ssce, and, nos
noticeable Of al, the firing INTO tie mouth Of !
3 full set os faise teeth Wow, tee At aad /
skill Ct tie de1.&ss In these days had not az 1
tained 70 q very perfect iraits.sc1 q nztUrs, /
and the plates oei1g large and clumsy, gaze /
% tie mouth ard vto,s low-- portion Il t6e /
face thas Fat, FIJI square ard unnatural ap- |
pearancs which al careful observers e /
6rua-ts great portrait cannos fail 20 ohssrvs, /
AID WHICH : very cfs@z qas-ionsngiy rs
marked upon Tbs portraits vas adopted As /
harnsuix,ns Eore t2Iiy With tie oUUr.iy /
conception II VIA: tie personal aPpearsnoe
and h.bilzser-s Of Gle IN 20 G-ea. authority i
should De; bUt as . portrait !. Is 9 TIE 1
president r.ehsr than o< tie r.za. aid . 20 4
be regarded q t1s ideal, rather tean Is ics /
real Waning "a s Pease In Tie Sara
rog.aA
OE.e ., zee dresses OF ice cuffs Ct CAso>m