Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-02-22

Philadelphia, opposite the old liberty
bell. of the large f%ull-length portrait OF
Washington, which is said I o have
been painted by the noted Philadelphia
artist, Charles Wilson Peale, in 1881,
has naturally attracted considerable
attention from art connoisseurs and
visitors to the hall, particularly as the
painting has been hung in its present
position with the announced object in
view Of its purchase for $1,000 by the
city from the American Art associa-
ton OF New York, its present wne
Since the picture has been placed
in the old state house Charles Henry
Hart Of that city, the noted expert on
historical painting, has discovered
some very curious and interesting ma
terial regarding it. Among other
things Mr.. Hart has pointed u the
fact that the painting Is not an origi-
nal from life, but a replica, one OF sew
eral copies made by the artist and sold
for thirty guineas each, or about $3.50.
Mr.. Hart has further stated that the
original painting is still extant, and,
moreover, in Philadelphia, hanging In
the hallway Of the country place of the
late Thomas Mexican, Germantown,
and Is in excellent condition. This
picture was purchased at auction by
Henry Pratt Mexican in 1854 Tor $3.50.
Concerning the history OF the copy OF
this picture now offered for sale to
Philadelphia, the following is an ex-
tract from a communication received
by Director Ritter from Thomas E.
Kirby OF the American Art association:
Replying to your inquiries in refer
enc to the portrait OF Gen. Washing
ton by Charles Wilson Peale, now in
u possession, we will state that the
painting was purchased in Cadiz, Spain.
in February. 1896, by our Paris agent.
M. Montaignac. This painting for
many years was in the hands of bank
ers in Cadiz, held as collateral, and
although they knew the work to be the
portrait OF an American general, did
not know ii to be a portrait of our inn
mortal Washington. M. Montaignac, In
picture was ordered to be painted by
Don Juan Marailles, Spanish minister
to the United States in 1779, in con-
nection with Gen. Washington's pres
ence in Philadelphia. While Peale
painted seven or eight similar por-
traits, we consider the one In our pos
session the finest sample he produced,
and falling to find the slightest hint
Of retouching or restoration. We also
believe that our portrait is the only
one having the signature of artist and
date (17S1). Before sending the por-
trait to is our agent showed the pic
ture in Paris, and we quote from a
letter written by a well-known cor
noisseur, q. A. Lucas, an intimate
friend Of the late William H. Stewart
of Philadelphia, the famous connois-
seur:
Dear M. Montaignac: So much in
terested was In the Pealc portrait of
Washington now in your possession
that. after seeing 1t, I visited Versailles
in order to examine n by the same
artist which has been In the gallery
for a great many years. and was glad
to find that your portrait, according to
my judgment, is superior to 1t both in
execution Of the figure and the Access
series. the latter in the Versailles one
having all the appearance OF having
been painted by another than that OF
Peale. The Versailles portrait Is un-
signed; yours bears the artists sigma
ture. / hope, as you tell me It's destina-
ton is America, that 1t will a perma-
nent resting place In a public gallery.
and It now occurs to me that a most
fitting m would be Mount Vernon. I
am always happy when l see "epaves'
OF our early history rescued from loss
and destruction and finding a home I'm
our country. where they may be ali
ways seen and fully appreciated and
odunfrad 80