Portrait of George Washington

Following George Washington’s death, the fervor of patriotism that ensued made portrayals of him as President and as military hero some of the most popular images of the nineteenth century, depicted in many media.  In this example, the portrait is based on a painting of Washington commissioned in 1797 during his final year in office by William Kerin Constable (1752-1803), a New York merchant and landowner, from the well-known artist, Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), who executed a number of different versions of Washington. 

The unknown artist who rendered the image as a reverse painting on glass most likely traced it from an engraving, employing artistic license in presenting Washington as a youthful figure in a brightly colored uniform, unlike the elder statesman in black depicted in the original oil painting.  Also, he substituted a field army in the background where originally a naval scene was displayed. 

Reverse paintings on glass of this type were treasured by the Pennsylvania Germans who proudly displayed them in their homes.  Whether the portrait was actually made in America or by a European craftsman for the American market cannot be determined.  This type of portrait was not only copied as reverse paintings on glass but also as watercolor and ink drawings, in a manner similar to fraktur, which were also found in Pennsylvania German households.