The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

/ ecutive Council of Pennsylvania adopted
January IS 1873 while Washington was
temporarily in Philadelphia. When COM
Dleted it was hung in the Council Cham
Der. in Independence HALL where on Sun
day night September g. ISL vandals broke
in and totally defacsd" it. The artist,
however. succeeded in refining and restor-
ing the damaged picture and it renamed
in the State House and afterward in
Feale's Museum collection. until the lat
ter was disposed OF by auction in 1854.
There are many replicas of it. and of por
ions OF it. Peale himself having made a
, Aezzotinto plate Of 1t in half length.
| The next of the Peale series dates from
| 1881. when Washington was fftytwo years
old. The canvas is 81 by "a inches. and
| depicts the hero full length, with sword
| extended in his right hand. in a graceful
| and dignified attitude. In the background
| is an allegorical group evidently repre-
| sentiDg the struggle. sacrifice. and tri
| umph of the Revolution The original Of
| this portrait is now in the possession OF
Princeton University.
The following year Peale painted fine
| miniature of Washington. which now be-
| longs to the Long. Island Historical So
| ciety.
Peale's 1887 portrait has been often re-
produced. both in this country and Eu-
rope. 1t is a bust likeness, the canvas
being 10 by "a inches. The pictures at
tributed to Peale in independence Hall,
Philadelphia, and the Lenox Gallery, are
said to be from this head. The same ar
tist painted a miniature on ivory of
Washington in 11SS. now in the possession
OF the Pennsylvania Historical Society.
The last portrait of Washington made
from life by Peale was executed in 1895,
the subject OF the counterfeit present
ment" being then sixty-fve years
markahly with the Hordon bust, and is
regarded by many as the most faithful
likeness of the distinguished patriot.
Peale painted several replicas of it, and
Rembrandt Peale frequently copied it,
. The original. "a by 80 inches. is now inr
the Bryan collection, New York Histori-
cal Society.
There are two notable original por-
traits of Washington in this city-one in
the National Museum. painted by Joseph
Wright. in 1880, and the other in the
possession of Mrs. Kate Upsher Moorhead,
painted by the Marchioness de Brehan,
in 1883.
Both portraits are profile likenesses.
and have been universally accounted
faithful and accurate.
Gilbert Stuart. whose pictures of Wash
ington have been given pre-eininence
over all others. is ranked as the first of
American artists in portraIture. Stuart's
first painting of Washington G795) is
comparatively little known. having been
superseded by that produced by the same
hand the following year. The latter is a
truly wonderful work of art, and justi-
fies, in its mastery technique, the pop
ularity accorded It. II has been enerav-
ed more than 200 times, and copies of il
in some shape are probably to be found
in nearly every household in the commu-
nifty. Yet this picture was not regarded
by the wife Of the subject as a true
resemblance" The original OF which
probably no adequate copy has yet been
made, is in the Boston Museum of Fine
Arts. Stuarts portraits are both more
finished and apparently life-like than any
Of those made by other artists.
very fine painting of Washington was
made, in 1874, by Adolph Uric Wertmul
Ter, OF Stockholm. Sweden. This picture
was sold at auction, in Philadelphia. after
the artists death for $50. II now belongs
to John Wagner. of Philadelphia
The last portrait made of Washington is
that drawn by st. Memin in 1873. the sub
ject being then sixty-six years of age
The original crayon was in the Possession
of the late J. Carson Brevoort. of Brook
Ign, New York. Charles Balthazer Julien
Fevret de ST. Memin was a French artist
who came to this country in 1893 and in
stituted mechanical process of protrait-
ure by which he claimed to be able 10 take
a mechanically exact outline of the head
on paper and reduce 1t to any size re-
quired on copper In November, 1898,
Washington was summoned to Philadel-
phia to take command of the army on the
occasion of the threatened war with
France, and st Memin made good the op-
portunity to secure the last portrait ever
taken of the great patriot. The present
location OF this drawing is unknown.