John Vanderlyn (American, 1775-1852), attrib. Portrait of George Washington after the “ Athenaeum Portrait” of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828). Oil on Canvas, 30 in. x 24 ½ in. Provenance: Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc. New York, NY.
The Iconic Face of the American Republic Few images in American history are as recognizable as Gilbert Stuart's Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington. Painted in 1796 during Washington's presidency, Stuart's unfinished masterpiece became the definitive likeness of the nation's founding leader and served as the source for countless copies, engravings, and adaptations throughout the nineteenth century. This example, attributed to John Vanderlyn, demonstrates the enduring influence of Stuart's image and the reverence with which Washington was regarded during the formative decades of the American Republic. The portrait presents Washington in a dignified bust-length format against a dark background, emphasizing the statesman's calm authority and moral character.
John Vanderlyn was one of the most important American painters of the early nineteenth century. Born in Kingston, New York, in 1775, he studied under Gilbert Stuart before becoming one of the first American artists to receive formal academic training in Paris. Vanderlyn later painted many of the leading figures of the early Republic, including Presidents Monroe, Madison, Jackson, and Taylor. George Washington as National Symbol By the early nineteenth century, portraits of Washington had become symbols of patriotism and national identity. Copies of Stuart's portrait adorned banks, courthouses, government offices, colleges, military institutions, and private homes throughout the United States.
Historical Significance This portrait stands within the great tradition of early American presidential portraiture. It reflects both the artistic legacy of Gilbert Stuart and the emergence of a uniquely American school of painting represented by John Vanderlyn. For collectors of presidential history, Federal-era Americana, and early American portraiture, works of this type offer a tangible connection to the founding generation of the United States. Catalog Notes Artist: Attributed to John Vanderlyn (1775–1852) Subject: George Washington (1732–1799) After: Gilbert Stuart's Athenaeum Portrait (1796) Medium: Oil on Canvas School: American Provenance: Private Collection
John Vanderlyn (American, 1775-1852), attrib. Portrait of George Washington after the “ Athenaeum Portrait” of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828). Oil on Canvas, 30 in. x 24 ½ in. Provenance: Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc. New York, NY.
The Iconic Face of the American Republic Few images in American history are as recognizable as Gilbert Stuart's Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington. Painted in 1796 during Washington's presidency, Stuart's unfinished masterpiece became the definitive likeness of the nation's founding leader and served as the source for countless copies, engravings, and adaptations throughout the nineteenth century. This example, attributed to John Vanderlyn, demonstrates the enduring influence of Stuart's image and the reverence with which Washington was regarded during the formative decades of the American Republic. The portrait presents Washington in a dignified bust-length format against a dark background, emphasizing the statesman's calm authority and moral character.
John Vanderlyn was one of the most important American painters of the early nineteenth century. Born in Kingston, New York, in 1775, he studied under Gilbert Stuart before becoming one of the first American artists to receive formal academic training in Paris. Vanderlyn later painted many of the leading figures of the early Republic, including Presidents Monroe, Madison, Jackson, and Taylor. George Washington as National Symbol By the early nineteenth century, portraits of Washington had become symbols of patriotism and national identity. Copies of Stuart's portrait adorned banks, courthouses, government offices, colleges, military institutions, and private homes throughout the United States.
Historical Significance This portrait stands within the great tradition of early American presidential portraiture. It reflects both the artistic legacy of Gilbert Stuart and the emergence of a uniquely American school of painting represented by John Vanderlyn. For collectors of presidential history, Federal-era Americana, and early American portraiture, works of this type offer a tangible connection to the founding generation of the United States. Catalog Notes Artist: Attributed to John Vanderlyn (1775–1852) Subject: George Washington (1732–1799) After: Gilbert Stuart's Athenaeum Portrait (1796) Medium: Oil on Canvas School: American Provenance: Private Collection
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