- Portrait of General Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee (1756–1818)
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Charles Willson Peale, a prolific and masterful American painter, was also an accomplished miniature portraitist. In 1776, drawn by his enthusiasm for the emerging American nation, he moved to Philadelphia, where he raised troops for the War of Independence and served as a captain in the Pennsylvania militia. Peale painted miniature portraits of officers in the Continental Army. Here, he depicts General Henry Lee, who was given his nickname "Light-Horse Harry" during his service as a cavalry officer during the American Revolution. Lee served as the ninth governor of Virginia as well as the Virginia representative to the United States Congress.
ProvenanceCharles Wilson Peale; his son, Titian Peale; his niece, Mary Jane Peale; purchased by Miss Mary Theodora Burt and Edith Brook Burt, Philadelphia, by 1877; to her niece, Eliza Burt Brown, by 1953; to Robert J. Brown, Jr., 1984; [Frank S. Schwartz and Son, Philadelphia, by 1990]; possibly purchased by [Hirschl and Adler Galleries, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 1999.
Exhibition History"Radicals and Revolutionaries: America's Founding Fathers," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 10–May 28, 2018.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Typed and adhered to paper backing: Miss Mary Burt
Old paper note, handwritten inside frame: Lower miniature (Henry Lee...torn)/ General - called "Light Horse Harry". 1756-1818-/ 2nd wife Anne Hill Carter of Sherley Virginia-/ General Robert Edward Lee, their son 1807-1870/ Henry Lee - graduate of Princeton. one of-/ Washingtons most brave and daring/ Generals. Later Governor (?) of Virginia./ This Portrait painted by-/ Charles Wilson (sic) Peale - most noted of the Peale's. This miniature was given to his son Titian Peale. who gave it his niece (? torn) Miss Mary Peale (Artist) with a letter/ stating when painted . Aunt Mary Burt/ bought. both. miniatures from Miss P...(? torn)/ Henry Lee, home in Virginia called "Lee Hall"-/ M.T. Burt.-
Old exhibition label inside frame: ...(torn)/EXHIBITION OF PORTRAITS BY CHARLES WILLSON/ REMBRANDT PEALE AND JAMES PEALE/ 1923/ ...DETACHED AND FIXED ON BACK OF WORK/ General Henry C Lee/ The Misses Burt/ ...?
Newspaper clipping inside frame: On a warm day, June 7, 1776,/ Richard Henry Lee...[see copy in accession file]
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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