Edward Savage
The Washington Family

ArtistAmerican, 1761–1817
PublisherAmerican, 1761–1817
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • The Washington Family
  • La Famille de Washington
Date1798
PlacePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
MediumStipple engraving and line-cut engraving on wove paper
DimensionsPlate: 19 7/8 × 25 3/4 in. (50.5 × 65.4 cm)
Sheet: 21 7/8 × 26 5/8 in. (55.6 × 67.6 cm)
Mat: 26 1/2 × 31 1/2 in. (67.3 × 80 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Robert New and Hibernia Bank in honor of Ted Bauer and the University of Houston at "One Great Night in November, 2004"
Object numberB.2004.41
Not on view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description“It is noteworthy that every American considers it his sacred duty to have a likeness of Washington in his home,” observed Paul Svinin, a Russian diplomat who traveled across the United States at the beginning of the nineteenth century. One of the most compelling portraits of George Washington is Edward Savage’s composition of the General with members of his family at Mount Vernon. The engraving is based on Savage’s monumental group portrait, now at the National Gallery of Art, and is believed to have been completed shortly after he left Philadelphia for London. The work depicts General and Mrs. Washington with her grandchildren and Washington’s enslaved manservant, Christopher Sheels. Spread across the table before them is a map of the future capitol, Washington, D.C. The popularity of Savage’s engraving was widespread, and it soon was celebrated as a part of our national imagery.
Provenance[The Old Print Shop, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2004.
Exhibition History"Exhibited As We Are: Fighting Racism with Art in the Age of Slavery,” Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Bayou Bend, April 29–August 16, 2015.

"Radicals and Revolutionaries: America's Founding Fathers," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 10–May 28, 2018.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center: Printed & Engraved by E: Savage.
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center left: The WASHINGTON FAMILY. / George Washington his Lady, and her two Grandchildren by the name of Custis.
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center right: La FAMILLE de WASHINGTON. / George Washington, Son Epouse., et Les deux petits Enfants du Nom de Custis"
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center bottom edge: Philadelphia, Publish'd March 10th 1798. by E: Savage & Rob.t Wilkinson N.o 58 Cornhill London.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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

Congress Voting Independence
Edward Savage
c. 1795
Stipple and line engraving on laid paper
B.91.45
John Adams, President of the United States of America
Edward Savage
1800
Stipple engraving and etching on wove paper, state I
B.2013.38
Consecrated to the Memory of Gen. Alexander Hamilton
John Scoles
c. 1805
Stipple engraving and line engraving on wove paper
B.2019.8
Martial Law
John Sartain
1872
Mezzotint, line and stipple engraving and watercolor on wove paper
B.88.28
The County Election
John Sartain
1854
Mezzotint, line and stipple engraving and watercolor on wove paper
B.2000.17
Pater Patriae
Enoch G. Gridley
c. 1800
Stipple and line engraving with etching on wove paper
B.96.5
Portrait of George Washington
Illman Brothers, Philadelphia, Penn.
Stipple and line engraving on wove paper
96.1637
His Most Gracious Majesty King George the Third
Benjamin Smith
1804
Stipple engraving and engraving on wove paper
B.2018.3
The Burial of General Fraser
William Nutter
1794
Stipple engraving, engraving, and etching printed in colors à la poupée on wove paper
B.2017.16
Landing of Christopher Columbus
David Edwin
1800
Stipple engraving and etching on wove paper
B.2014.6
Stump Speaking
Louis-Adolphe Gautier
1856
Stipple engraving and etching, printed chine collé, on wove paper, proof before lettering
B.2013.9
The Most Noble Charles Marquis Cornwallis…
Benjamin Smith
1798
Stipple engraving on wove paper
B.2017.15