Gilpin observer., 1900-02-15
PEALE'S WASHINGTON,


Philadelphia, opposite the old liberty
bell, of the large fGll-length portrait OF
Washington, which is said to 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 $4,000 by the
city from the American Art associa
tion of New York, its present owner.
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 out the
fact that the painting is not an or gi
nal from life, but replica, one of sew
erai copies made by the artist and sold
for thirty guineas each, or about $l5O.
Mr.. Hart has further stated that the
original painting is still extant, ana,
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 OR $3.50.
Concerning the history of the copy OF
this picture now offered for sale to
Philadelphia, the following is an ex-
tract from communication received
by Director Ritter from Thomas Il.
Kirby of the American Art association:
Replying to your inquiries in REFER
ence to the portrait of Gen. Washing,
ton by Charles Wilson Peale now in
our 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 CaGiz, held as collateral. and
although they knew the work to be the
portrait of an American general, did
not know it to be n portrait of our i'm
mortal Washington. NJ. Montaignac, in
sending the work to us. states that the
picture was ordered to be painted by
Don Juan Marailles. Spanish minister
to the United States in 1873, in con-
nection with Gen. Washingtons 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 failing 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 17SD. Before sending the por
trait to us our agent showed the pic
ture in Paris. and we quote from
| letter written by well-known con-
noisseur, G. A. Lucas. an intimate
friend of the late William II. Stewart
of Philadelphia. the famous connois-
seur:
Dear NJ. Montaignac: So much in
terested was | in the Peale portrait OF
Washington now in your possession
that, after seeing II, | visited Versailles
| in order to examine one by the same
| artist which has been in the gallery
for n 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 acces-
sories. the latter in the Versailles one
having all the appearance of having
been painted by another than that or
Peale. The Versailles portrait is un-
signed. yours bears the artists sigma
ture. hope. as you tell me Its destina-
tion is America, that it will perma-
nent resting place in public gallery
and 1t now occurs to me that a most
fitting one would be Mount Vernon.
am always happy when see "epaves'
of our early history rescued from loss
and destruction and finding nome In
our country. where they may be al
ways seen and fully appreciated and