Attributed to Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860) Portrait of George Washington, 1800-1820

Description:

Attributed to Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860)

Portrait of George Washington, 1800-1820, Unsigned. Oil on canvas, George Washington, in the uniform of a British Colonial Colonel, wears a dark blue coat faced with red and trimmed with gold and a red waist coat with a document protruding from its pocket inscribed "Order of March," silver gorget at the neck and all overlaid with purple sash, together with red breeches and a black hat trimmed with gold braid, sight size 50 x 40 in., in a period frame (gesso losses). Condition: Paint loss, craquelure, relined and laid down on Masonite.

Note: This attribution made by a Peale scholar, Carol Eaton Soltis, of Radnor, Pennsylvania, is based on this painting's being a very close and diligent copy of Charles Willson Peale's 1772 George Washington currently in the collection of Washington and Lee University, suggesting the artist had direct access to the 1772 work. Both works measure 50 x 40 inches. The fact that this copy is done on the same large scale as the original suggests it was a serious commission. In Charles Coleman Seller's 1952 publication,Portraits and Miniature by Charles Willson Peale, he cited the Peale family's cottage industry in Washington portraits. Rembrandt Peale, son of Charles, would have had easy access to the 1772 work as it hung in the Philadelphia Museum until 1854. Rembrandt Peale worked in New York and Philadelphia chiefly. The date 1800-1820 ascribed to this later portrait is based on the number of very close copies of other Charles Willson Peale Washingtons done between 1800 and 1820 and the fact that this portrait includes a warmer color palette and the meticulous execution for which Rembrandt's work is known at the time. The chief differences between the 1772 George Washington portrait and its faithful early 19th century copy is the latter varies slightly in the landscape elements; has a warmer color palette; and a slightly fuller facial anatomy.
Estimate $12,000-18,000

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