Description:
Print (copper plate engraving) shows George Washington, full-length portrait, standing outside tent, wearing military uniform, holding the Declaration of Independence and the treaty of alliance with France in front of tent, at his feet lie torn copies of documents relating to reconciliation efforts by Great Britain, Washington's enslaved valet William "Billy" Lee, attends to General Washington's horse in the background, and in the far distance is a military camp, at the bottom of the print, engraved with the inscription, "Le General Washington/ Ne Quid Detrimenti capiat Res piblica/ Grave d'apres le Tableau Original appartenant a M Marquis de la Lafayette/ Cette estampe ce vend avec privilége du Roy chez le Mire graveur rüe et porte St. Jacques. Maison de Mr. le Camus Md. de Drap, prix 12 livres, [178-]/ and on the left and right side of the print: "peint par L. Le Paon peintre de bataille de S.A.S. Mgr. le Prince de Condé" and "gravé par N. le Mire des Academies Imperiales et Royales et de celle des Sciences et Arts de Rouen." this engraving by Noel Le Mire is after an unidentified artist, after Jean-Baptiste Le Paon (French, 1736/38-1785).
An early full-length engraved portrait of General George Washington, engraved by Frenchman Noel Le Mire after a painting by Jean-Baptiste Le Paon (the face and figure of Washington were further based on Charles Willson Peale's 1776 portrait of Washington). The elaborate scene shows Washington in military uniform outside of his headquarters, holding important documents such as the Declaration of Independence, and the Treaty of Alliance between the United States and France, and overlooking a receding landscape with marching Continental Army soldiers. In the foreground can been seen numerous torn documents and bills relating to British Parliament and King George III, while in the background Washington's enslaved valet Willaim "Billy" Lee is depicted attending to the General's horse. Le Mire subsequently produced a companion piece to this portrait depicting the Marquis de Lafayette.
Tags:
enslaved persons; African American Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2129.1 |
