Samuel Blyth
Lady Washington

Public Domain

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ArtistAttributed to Samuel BlythAmerican, 1744–1795

Artistafter Charles Willson Peale American, 1741–1827

CultureAmerican

Titles

Lady Washington

Datec. 1776

PlaceUnited States

MediumMezzotint with watercolor and gouache on laid paper

DimensionsPlate: 11 3/4 × 9 5/8 in. (29.8 × 24.4 cm)
Sheet (irregular): 13 3/4 × 10 7/16 in. (34.9 × 26.5 cm)
Frame: 15 1/2 × 12 1/16 in. (39.4 × 30.6 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by the Houston Junior Woman's Club

Object numberB.99.8

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionThis print and its companion image of His Excellency George Washington (B.99.7) are believed to have been copied after a pair of oil portraits John Hancock commissioned from Charles Willson Peale in 1776. Hancock, then president of the Continental Congress, hoped to receive an important military commission from the General; however, Washington rebuffed his overture and any dreams of military glory were dashed. Today the Peale portrait of George Washington is at the Brooklyn Museum, while that of Martha Washington is lost and therefore only known through this mezzotint - the earliest published likeness of her. Joseph Hiller, Sr., in addition to being an engraver was a Boston silversmith who served as a Major in the revolutionary army.
ProvenanceValentine Hollingsworth, Boston, by 1931; by descent in the family; [Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 1999.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center: Lady Washington

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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