George Washington’s death on December 14, 1799, sparked a wave of mourning among American citizens, which has never been equaled. The passing of the first president was marked by a flurry of memorial services, processions, mock funerals, the publication of over 400 eulogies and funeral orations, and the creation of a staggering number of prints and memorial embroideries. These tributes extolled Washington’s virtues, encouraging Americans to emulate his character and preserve the strength of the new republic.

Thomas Clarke, who had worked in New York City but was then working in Boston, engraved this memorial to Washington in 1801. Its classical imagery, which includes an obelisk and weeping willow, are typical of the neoclassical period, as are the mourners, sobbing pathetically into their handkerchiefs. One of the mourners carries an anchor (a traditional symbol of hope, steadfastness, or salvation) and points heavenward. The likeness of Washington on the obelisk is based on Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of the president. The obelisk is inscribed “There is rest in heaven.”