Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-16

| ilrst CHARLES wilson, then James VINO
executed several portraits OF hini--and
| finally the formers son, Rembrandt,
| who had three exclusive sittings. the
| first when he was only IL years old,
/ One day in September. 1895, when
Washington was In his second term,
the artist Stuart, who was probably a
little Jealous of his rivals fayors, re-
marked to Mrs. Washington whom he
casually met that She had better has
ten 10 her husbands protection as
| Charles Wilson, james, Rembrandt
and Raphael were "Pealeing him on the
right side and on the left, behind and
/ before."
/ 1t Is undoubtedly true. that the great
Hon Of the Revolution was frequently
balted almost beyond the limit of pa
thence by the knights Of the brush, who
We're well aware OF the value Of eX-
/ plotting him to the utmost He was in
! dulgent to the Peales on account Of the
1 services and comradeship Of Charles
and James IN the war, but that he was
finally extremely wearied by their inn
portunities Is amply shown in his diary
and some of his letters, Wherever he
went-at Valley Forge amid the SHOWS
Of winter In camp in New York or in
Philadelphia-he found a detachment
Of vagrant artists ready to attack him
front flank and rear.
Among those who secured Washing
tons portrait were Pierre Eugene ST.
mitiere, Frenchman Of some note as
an artist; William Dunlap and Joseph
Wright. The last named had studied
IN Paris under the care of BENJAMIN
Franklin In the autumn of 1853 he
painted a three-quarter portrait OF
Washington and afterward two others
He was appointed by President Wash
ington chief craftsman ana die sinker
TO the United States mint and the first
coins and medals issued by the nation
al government were his handiwork.
Washington once wrote OF Simitlere's
portrait that IL was the best for which
he had then sat, but Wright secured
what Is generally acknowledged TO be a
better profile in 1890 from sketch as
he saw Washington in church, wholly
unconscious of being drawn.
There are probably 40 authentic por-
traits Of Washington. and about 20 more
that do not bear the stamp Of anthem
ticity; so 1t may be supposed that he
was a frequent though not always a
willing victim. In l779, at the request
Of his friend. John Jay, he sat to SINH
there while in Philadelphia, and the art
list wrote, "rhe general condescended
with great good nature TO sit about
three quarters Of an hour for this like
ness, having but little time 10 spend,
this being the last day OF his stay In
town" In January Of the same year
while in Philadelphia TO attend a ban
quet given him by congress, he had sat
TO Captain c. W. Peale for a portrait
which when finished was hung in the
council chamber. Two years afterward
II was destroyed by a mob.
To show how the great man was pes
tered IL is only necessary to refer 20 his
own writings after the close Of the war,
when he had retired to Mount Vernon.
where he had fondly but vainly hoped
to enjoy the rest that had so long been
denied him. Among the hosts that in
vaded his retreat were artists and
sculptors in droves, all OF whom, how
ever, he accommodated so far as he
was able In his diary some time in I
1886 he wrote: TO dinner, Mr.. Pine, a
pretty eminent portrait and historical /
painter; arrived In order to take my /
picture from life and place Il IN the his
torlcal pieces he is about to draw. This
gentleman stands In good estimation as
painter in England and comes rec
commended 10 me from Colonel Fairfax.
MIR Morris. Governor Dickinson, Mr.
Hopkinson and others"
II was OF Artist Pine, former pupil |
Of Sir Joshua Reynolds. who was domi- /
clled for three weeks az Mount Vernon. !