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


Washington-that an important item
~ on the official program of the George
Washington Bicentennial Commission,
charged with the celebration next year OF this
great event, is project TO reproduce in color
a portrait of George Washington for distribu-
ton to the schools of the country, the expense
being borne by Congress In order to select
the best portrait, an advisory committee was
appointed, comprising Leicester B. Holland,
chief of the division of fine arts of the Library
of Congress- Charles Moore, chairman OF the
National Commission of Fine Arts; John G..
Fitzpatrick, compiler of the writings Of George
Washington; Ezra Winter, fellow in painting,
American Academy in Rome; Carl Melchers,
distinguished as painter both OF portraits and
figures, together with Harrison H. Dodge, super
intendent of Mount Vernon, and Albert Bush
nell Hart, historian. This commission has given
already considerable time to a consideration
of the subject, but has come to definite con-
clusion. The portrait which Is supposed to be
most authentic and satisfactory is all are
agreed Houdons work in sculpture, which,
however, will not lend itself satisfactorily to
color reproduction. So the selection Of the
portrait still rests as it were, in the lap of the
gods.
Probably the most popular and also the best
known portrait Of Washington is the so-called
Athenaeum portrait, painted from life, by Gil
bert Stuart in 1896, now in the Museum Of
Fine Arts Boston, which has already been adj
mirably reproduced in color and repeatedly en-
graved for private purposes and also by the
Government for stamps, bank notes, etc. The
feeling of historians is that this portrait is per-
haps too much idealized, although the suppose
ton is that it was one Of the two Gilbert
Stuarts painted from life from which many
replicas were made. Certainly it shows WASH
ington in his later days, but it is Washington
as the people of the United States for more
than hundred years have visualized him.
There are at least two portraits of Washing
Ak.sr asN,y x~aA
by the Corcoran Gallery Of Art, which was pur-
chased from the painter himself by Col John
Tayloe of Mount Airy and presented to
the Corcoran Gallery by Mrs Benjamin Ogle
Tayloe; the other belonging to the Washington
Cathedral the gift of John J. Chapman of New
York. These are both of the Athenaeum type.
Twelve years ago portrait of Washington by
Gilbert Stuart differing in many ways from
the Athenaeum portrait was discovered in Eng
land, brought to this country and purchased by
the late Henry c. Prick for the sum of approx
mately $4,000. This portrait is included
in the Prick collection. The Metropolitan Mu-
scum of New York owns what is known Gill
bert Stuart's Gibbs Channing" portrait. There
is a superb portrait of Washington by Trum-
bull, full length in the mayors Office, City Hall,
Charleston. Princeton University owns a full
length portrait Of Washington by Charles Will
son Peae, representing him at the Battle Of
Princeton. Other portraits painted by
Wertmuler and by James Sharples.
In Washington Irving's Life of Washington"
a chapter Of the appendix is devoted to the sub
ject Of portraits OF Washington. Special men,
ton is made Of a portrait by Robert Edge
Pine, an Englishman, who settled in Phiadel-
phia, where he painted portraits of numerous
statesmen and celebrities. Armed with let
ter from Hopkinson, he solicited the privilege
of painting a portrait of Washington, was
granted permission, and he spent three weeks
at Mount Vernon painting Washington and
members OF his family. According to Tucker
man this portrait "bequeaths the features with
great accuracy" but Is cold in tone and IN
effect unimpressive beside the more bold and
glowing pencil Of Stuart" Apparently Gilbert
Stuarts Interpretation was, even in those early
DAYS, regarded as most satisfactory.