General Washington
Engraved and published in London, this hand-colored mezzotint by the British engraver Green is based on an important early portrait of Washington by the American artist Trumbull (also in the Museum's collection (24.109.88)). Wearing military uniform, the general stands on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River with a Black figure assumed to be William Lee–his enslaved valet, groom and military aide. Trumbull had served on Washington's staff as an aide-de-camp early in the Revolutionary War, then traveled to London in 1780 to pursue his artistic career. The image he created from memory was the first authoritative portrayal of Washington widely available in Europe and soon engraved. Trumbull would have known Lee from his wartime service, yet chose to depict him unnaturalistically in a turban, based on European "orientalist" convention associated with Black figures. An accurate visual portrait of Lee–who Washington freed and granted an annuity in his will–is unknown.
Artwork Details
- Title: General Washington
- Engraver: Valentine Green (British, Salford 1739–1813 London)
- Artist: After John Trumbull (American, Lebanon, Connecticut 1756–1843 New York)
- Publisher: Valentine Green (British, Salford 1739–1813 London)
- Sitter: George Washington (American, 1732–1799)
- Sitter: Probably portrays William (Billy) Lee (American, ca. 1750–1810)
- Published in: London
- Date: January 15, 1781
- Medium: Hand-colored mezzotint; after second state
- Dimensions: Plate: 23 3/4 × 15 3/4 in. (60.3 × 40 cm)
Sheet: 25 3/4 × 17 1/8 in. (65.4 × 43.5 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924
- Object Number: 24.90.181
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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