Samuel Blyth
His Excellency, George Washington Esqr.

His Excellency, George Washington Esqr.

Public Domain

His Excellency, George Washington Esqr.
ArtistAmerican, 1744–1795
ArtistAmerican, 1741–1827
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • His Excellency, George Washington Esqr.
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 5/8 x 10 1/2 in. (34.6 x 26.7 cm)
Frame: 15 1/2 × 12 1/16 × 1 in. (39.4 × 30.6 × 2.5 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by the Houston Junior Woman's Club
Object numberB.99.7
Not on view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
DescriptionThis print and its companion image of Lady Washington (B.99.8) 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: HIS EXCELLENCY / GEORGE WASHINGTON ESQ"R

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Lady Washington
Samuel Blyth
c. 1776
Mezzotint with watercolor and gouache on laid paper
B.99.8
Henry Laurens Esqr. President of the American Congress 1778
Valentine Green
1782
Mezzotint with engraving on laid paper
B.56.1
Martial Law
John Sartain
1872
Mezzotint, line and stipple engraving and watercolor on wove paper
B.88.28
Horatio Gates, Esqr., Major General of the American Forces, 1778
John Morris, London
1778
Mezzotint with engraving on paper
B.90.12
George Washington. Late President of the American Congress
Philip Dawe
1801
Mezzotint and watercolor with engraving on wove paper
B.2019.11
The City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, North America
Samuel Seymour
1801
Etching and engraving with watercolor and gouache on wove paper, state II
B.63.157
On the River Machwy, Wales
Samuel Palmer
1837
Watercolor and gouache over black chalk on wove paper, heightened with white chalk on wove paper
2017.15
Mount Vernon in Virginia / The seat of the late Lieutenant General George Washington
Frances Rogers (Mrs. Samuel Green Arnold, Sr.)
c. 1800–1805
Silk, gold and silver metallic threads, with watercolor and spangles
B.2009.18
Tomo Chachi Mico or King of Yamacraw, and Tooanahowi his Nephew, Son to the Mico of the Etchitas.
John Faber the Younger
c. 1734
Mezzotint with engraving on laid paper
B.2020.4
The Hon[ora]ble S[i]r Wm. Howe, Knight of the Bath and commander in chief of his majesty's forces in America
Richard Purcell (also published as Charles Corbutt)
1777
Mezzotint on laid paper
B.2004.42