Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

FAngers, in rotunda Of the Capitol.
from one place to another and had crossed the
ocean twice.
Charles Wilson Peale painted the earliest
authentic portrait of Washington at Mount
Vernon in May, 1872. He is said to have
painted the illuStrious Virgin!an from life II
times. The portrait IN the Capitol is one Of
many copies the artist made from picture
painted from life in 1778, when Washington
about 46 years old. Washington is cere.
moniouSly dressed in his uniform as commander
in chief of the Continental Army. He stands
beside a cannon and above him flies the Amer
lean flag, which is believed to be the only paint
ing of its period showing true representation
OF the flag as it then existed. The artist served
under Washington as a captain Of volunteers
and was in a position to observe the flag used
at that time
Charles Wilson Pea1e was born April IS, 1741,
at Chesterton, Md. He was IA years older than
Stuart. His father died when he was - years
old and at that age his mother apprenticed
him to a Saddlemaker. Peale was versatile
man and during his lifetime he practiced many
trades. Besides harness and saddle making, he
made clocks and watches; painted in OIL crayon
and miniature; modelled in clay, wax and
plaster; sawed ivory. nodded glasses, made
shagreen cases and preserved animals, which
he supplied with glass eyes and artificial limbs
when they were deficient of such. He was also
a dentist and Is accredited with having first
made porcelain teeth. He even found time to
serve his country as a soldier and legislator.
Peale began painting portraits without i'm
struction, but when he 81 years old he
went to London and studied under Benjamin
West The artist was married three times and
had large family of sons and daughters most
Of whom he named for illustrous artists of
former days. Several of his children became
artists. His younger brother, James, and his
son, Rembrandt Peale, are also celebrated for
their paintings of Washington. Charles Wilson
Peale died in 1927, at the age of 81.
THE portrait of Washington in the Vice Presi-
dents room Of the Capitol is by Rembrandt
Peale. 1t was bought by the Government in
1882 for $4,000. Rembrandt Peale first painted
Washington from life when he was but lad
IT years old. His well known composite portrait
of Washington was produced in 1923, "a years
after Washington's death. The artist made 70
copies of this portrait and 80 copies of his
fathers portrait of Washington
The ful-length portrait of Washington which
hangs to the right of the Speakers chair in the
House of Representatives is the work of John
Vanderlin, the American artist who painted the
Landing of Columbus" which is in the ro-
tunda The head of Washington in this pic
ture was copied from Stuart's Washington, and
perhaps that IS the reason this picture is some
times accredited to Stuart. Vanderlyn was
commissioned by Congress in 1884 to paint
picture OF washington Tor a companion porLralG
to that Of Lafayette, which is on the left of the
Speakers chair. The artist was paid $4,000
for the portrait.
Vanderlyn was a pupil Of Gilbert Stuart and
during his lifetime he had many influential
friends. But despite his popularity and sue
cess as an artist, he died poor and alone in q
hotel room in his home town. Kingston, N. Y.
Shortly before his death he became financially
involved by the building of the Rotunda in New
York City, where he exhibited several of his
panoramas, which were unsuccessful.
Many persons think that John Trumbun
painted Washington better than any other ar
fist. In a letter dated January 8, 1916, William
Thornton, who was at that time architect Of
the Capitol said: Although Stuart is UNI
equaled in head, he cannot draw figure.
but the proportions of our countryman Trum-
bull are correct. Yet the head is not to be
compared to the Stuart's" For this reason -
is interesting to study the figure of Washington
in the Trumbun pictures in the rotunda Th0
colossal painting. George Washington Resign