His Excellency, George Washington Esqr.

Public Domain

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ArtistAttributed to Samuel Blyth(American, 1744–1795)American, 1744–1795

Artistafter Charles Willson Peale (American, 1741–1827)American, 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 × 10 1/2 in. (34.6 × 26.7 cm)

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

Object numberB.99.7

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

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.

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