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 Cities may be founded bearing the Name of Washington 
 — Columns may be erected — and his Memory be cherished 
 in the bosoms of a grateful people ; there would, never- 
 theless, be something wanting. Had his features been 
 more ordinary, and his expression less distinguished, the 
 rising generation would still wish to know his own peculiar 
 look. But when it is known and recollected that his 
 Aspect Avas as noble as his Conduct, and that his counte- 
 nance corresponded with his character, it is impossible to 
 suppress a patriotic and natural desire to behold an im- 
 pressive Image of that Countenance. 
 
 The first Portrait of Washington, at the age of 41, was 
 painted at Mount Vernon, in 1772, by Charles Willson 
 Peale ; who also executed others in '78, '81, '83, '86, and 
 '95. Various Likenesses have been made by Houdon, 
 Trumbull, Pine, Cerachi, Westmiiller, Stuart; and again 
 by C. W. Peale and Rembrandt Peale, to whom, jointly, 
 Washington gave sittings in the Autumn of 1795. 
 
 A Portrait, in Senatorial Costume, intended to combine 
 the merits of these studies from the life (chiefly his own 
 and his father's), was executed by Rembrandt Peale, under 
 peculiar excitement, entirely for his own gratification, and 
 without any view to emolument. It, however, received 
 the unexpected approbation of his father, who had so 
 often painted the venerated form he had known so long, 
 and so Avell, and elicited the spontaneous applause of 
 Washington's Relatives and most intimate friends ; and 
 after having been an object of interest in his Painting 
 Rooms in England, France, and Italy, was bought in 1832, 
 by an unanimous Resolution of the Senate of the United 
 States for $2000. A Portrait, in Military Costume— the 
 study for an Equestrian Picture to commemorate the Siege 
 of Yorktown — was simultaneously painted, and remains in 
 R. Peale's possession : from this he has executed careful 
 Copies ; with the conviction, that as he is the only Painter 
 
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 living who ever saw Washington, the reduph'cation of his 
 work, by his own hand, shoukl be esteemed the most 
 reliable. 
 
 At tlie first exposure of R. Peale's Portrait in Philadel- 
 phia, Paul Beck, Esq., on leaving the Artist's painting 
 Room, met Mr, John Vaughan, whom he accosted with 
 this strong expression — " I have just been looking at 
 Washington — he is risen from the dead !" On Judge 
 Washington's first visit he exclaimed — " I am rejoiced that 
 at last a Portrait is painted worthy of Washington." 
 
 Lawrence Lewis, the oldest Nephew of Washington, who 
 most resembled him and was most with him, earnestly said 
 to Major Wm. Jackson, on seeing this Poi'trait in the 
 Artist's Painting Room, that " It was the only Portrait 
 of his uncle he would wish to look at a second time, but 
 on this he could gaze continually !" When Chief Justice 
 Marshall, first saw it at the Capitol, he exclaimed, " It 
 seems as if I were looking at the living man !" and recom- 
 mended the Artist to procure, in regard to this Portrait, 
 the written testimonies of those who were intimate with 
 Washington — himself commencing the example. This was 
 accordingly done, to a limited extent, not as a Certificate, 
 as has erroneously been asserted, but in Letters, expres- 
 sive of the judgments they had already pronounced in 
 public, and published during their lifetime. 
 
 Every one who personally knew Washington will claim 
 the privilege, and will exercise the right of judging for 
 himself; but all others will rely on the decision made by 
 his Relatives, Friends, and Cotemporaries ; nor can they 
 reasonably withhold conviction from such force of evidence 
 given by their own impulse, and each in his own peculiar 
 language. 
 
 It is singular in the history of this Picture, and perhaps 
 worthy of being recorded, that it was scarcely finished, 
 when, from the reports of Judges Peters and Tilghman, 
 during five days that the Artist's Room was open, no less 
 than three thousand persons, without invitation or any 
 public notice, crowded to see it — People who knew the 
 Original in the Army, in Congress, in Church, or in 
 business for him — Their universal approbation surprised 
 and could not but gratify the Artist. 
 
Tlie following Monumental Composition loas tvritten hy 
 an English Gentleman on the bade of a sm.all Profile 
 Crayon Portrait of Washington, belonging to Jonathan 
 Bayard Smith. 
 
 The Defender of his Country, 
 
 The founder of Liberty, 
 
 The friend of Man. 
 
 History and Tradition are explored in vain 
 
 For a parallel to his character ; 
 
 In the Annals of modern greatness 
 
 He stands alone ; 
 
 And the noblest names of Antiquity 
 
 Lose their lustre in his presence. 
 
 Born the benefactor of mankind, 
 
 He was equally endowed with all the qualities 
 
 Appropriate to his illustrious career. 
 
 Nature made him great, 
 
 And, (Heaven directed). 
 
 He made himself virtuous. 
 
 Called by his Country to the defence of her soil 
 
 And the vindication of her liberties. 
 
 He led to the field 
 
 Her patriot Armies ; 
 
 And displaying, in rapid and brilliant succession, 
 
 The united powers 
 
 Of consummate prudence 
 
 And heroic valor, 
 
He triumpliecl in Arms 
 
 Over the most powerful Nation of Modern Europe ; 
 
 His sword sfivinn; Freedom to America, — 
 
 His councils breathing Peace to the World. 
 
 After a short repose 
 
 From the tumultuous vicissitudes 
 
 Of a sanguinary War, 
 
 The commanding energies of Washington 
 
 Were again destined 
 
 To a new career of glory and usefulness : 
 
 The Civic Wreath 
 
 Was spontaneously placed, by the gratitude of the Nation, 
 
 On the brows of the Deliverer of his Country : 
 
 He was twice invested 
 
 With the powers of supreme Magistracy, 
 
 By the unanimous voice of a free people ; 
 
 And, in this exalted and arduous station, 
 
 The wisdom of his Cabinet 
 
 Transcended the glories of the Field, 
 
 The destinies of Washington 
 
 Were now completed — 
 
 Having passed the Meridian of a devoted life ; 
 
 Having founded on the pillars of National Independence, 
 
 The splendid fabric 
 
 Of a great Republic ; 
 
 And having firmly established 
 
 The Empire of the West, 
 
 He solemnly deposited, on the Altar of his Country, 
 
 His laurels and his sword ; 
 
 And retired to the shades 
 
 Of private life. 
 
A spectacle so new and so sublime, 
 
 Was contemplated by mankind 
 
 With the profoundest admiration ; 
 
 And the Name of Washington, 
 
 Adding new lustre to humanity, 
 
 Resounded to the remotest regions of the Earth ! 
 
 Magnanimous in youth ; 
 
 Glorious through life ; 
 
 Great in death : 
 
 His highest Ambition the happiness of mankind ; 
 
 His noblest victory. 
 
 The conquest of himself — 
 
 Bequeathing to America the Inheritance of his fame, 
 
 And building his Monument 
 
 In the hearts of his countrymen ; 
 
 He lived, 
 
 The Ornament of the Eighteenth Century ; 
 
 He died. 
 
 Lamented by a Mourning World. 
 
OF LETTERS ON 
 
 PEALE'S WASHINGTON, 
 
 Wi-ifteji hy the Relatives, Friends and Cotemporaries of 
 Washington, at the suggestion of Judge Marshall, expressive 
 of the Sentiments they had already pronounced in public. 
 
 CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL. 
 
 " I shall with much pleasure communicate the Impression 
 I received from viewing your Portrait of Washington. I 
 have never seen a Portrait of that great Man which exhi- 
 bited so perfect a resemblance of him. The likeness in 
 features is striking, and the character of the whole face is 
 preserved and exhibited with wonderful accuracy. It is 
 more Washington himself than any Portrait of him I have 
 ever seen." 
 
 JUDGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 " I have examined with attention and pleasure the Por- 
 trait you have drawn of General Washington ; and I feel 
 no hesitation in pronouncing it, according to my best judg- 
 ment, the most exact representation of the Original I have 
 ever seen. The features, as well as the character of the 
 countenance, are happily depicted." 
 
 JUDGE PETERS. 
 
 " I comply very cheerfully with your request to give my 
 opinion of your Portrait of Washington. You have so 
 many and so respectable testimonies of its excellence^ that 
 nothing I can say will add weight to them, or increase the 
 celebrity it has most justly obtained. No one had more 
 
frequent opportunities of observing both his features and 
 his person than I had — to enumerate them Ayould be an 
 endless task. I have seen him, during many years, from 
 an early period of my life, in every situation calculated to 
 imprint on my mind, accurate recollections. Perhaps there 
 is no person, now living, who had more frequent occasions 
 to know both his person and his character, in his private 
 as well as public capacities. I have seen all or most of 
 the Portraits of this venerated Father of our Country. 
 The Painters of several were respectable as Artists ; but 
 they have failed in the likeness — and I have never been 
 satisfied with any of them. I was therefore most sensibly 
 impressed with the superiority, in this regard, of your 
 Portrait ; which, I think, places all others in the shade. 
 Without pretending to nice discriminations in the execu- 
 tion, I judge from its effect on 7ny heart. You have most 
 happily caught the lineaments of his face, the air of his 
 person, and the character of his mind. I have seen him 
 a thousand times as he is represented by your able and 
 fortunate pencil ; and do not hesitate in pronouncing yours 
 to be (in my opinion) the only faithful likeness of the great 
 and good character, yet exhibited. You have done your- 
 self great honour, and presented to your country an ines- 
 timable gift. Those of this day, and future generations, 
 may view and venerate, in your performance, the true 
 Portrait of him to whom they so much owe the blessings 
 they enjoy. Meritorious as were all others of our revolu- 
 tionary Patriots, without a Washington their exertions 
 would have been vain." 
 
 CHARLES CARROLL, OF CARROLLTON. 
 
 " In viewing yesterday, with attention, your Portrait of 
 Washington, it brought to my recollection his countenance, 
 such as it was at the commencement of the Revolution, 
 
when excited by some incident whicli discomposed his 
 usual and settled features, more expressive of thought than 
 animation." 
 
 JUDGE TILGHMAK 
 
 " As you desire my opinion of your Portrait of Wash- 
 ington, 1 will not withhold it. I have a perfect recollection 
 of the countenance of that great man, having seen him a 
 private gentleman, before he commanded the Armies of 
 the United States, and often afterwards. His presence 
 was so commanding that it was not easily forgotten. There 
 have been many Portraits bearing a strong resemblance to 
 him ; for, indeed, it seemed impossible to miss his likeness : 
 but I can say, Avith great truth, that your work, both in 
 spirit and in likeness, surpasses all that I have seen. In 
 the best paintings of others, Washington is represented 
 with a quiescent mind; but you have fortunately con- 
 ceived his image, under the excitement of strong feeling, 
 and infused into his features an animation and energy of 
 character, which really belonged to him, but are not to be 
 found in any other Portrait which has fallen under my 
 observation." 
 
 MAJOR WM. JACKSON. 
 " In reply to your request that I would communicate 
 my opinion of your Portrait of Washington, I have the 
 pleasure to assure you that, in striking similitude of fea- 
 tures and characteristic expression of countenance, I con- 
 sider it the best and most faithful Portrait of the great 
 Pather of his Country that I have seen ; and I am per- 
 suaded it will be gratefully appreciated by the nation." 
 
 JUDGE LIVINGSTON. 
 
 " I give you with pleasure my opinion of your Picture 
 of Washington, exhibited here some days since. 
 
9 
 
 " During the last twenty years of the life of that great 
 man I had frequent, and for a considerable portion of that 
 time, daily opportunities of seeing and conversing with 
 him. I first saw him when I Avas just at that early age 
 when his character and the circumstances under which 
 I was presented to him, were most likely to leave the 
 strongest impression of his looks, and of every thing con- 
 nected with his appearance. I have seen him in the Camp, 
 addressing the Council of the Nation, and at his hospitable 
 board. In public and in private I have studied his fea- 
 tures, and they have left an indelible impression on 
 my memory ; and I must say that your Picture is the 
 one which comes nearest to my recollection of the great 
 Original. It gives the character and expression of the 
 face, as well as its features, more correctly than any I 
 have seen — and I consider this delineation of the Father 
 of his Country as a valuable acquisition to us who are his 
 children." 
 
 BISHOP WHITE. 
 
 " I cannot hesitate to express my approbation of the 
 Picture exhibited by you of General Washington. It 
 would be rash in me to aifect scientific knowledge in the 
 line of your profession ; but the impression made on me by 
 the Picture is identified with my recollection of the fea- 
 tures, the countenance, and, it will not be too much to say, 
 the character of that great man." 
 
 COLONEL J. E. HOWARD. 
 
 " I have visited the Museum to see the last Picture of 
 General Washington by Rembrandt Peale. The features 
 of the General were peculiar, and all the Pictures, and even 
 Prints, which I have seen, in some respects resembled 
 him ; but, according to my judgment, in this Picture all 
 
10 
 
 the features are accurately represented ; the eyes, the 
 forehead, the nose, the mouth, and general expression so 
 strongly designate the original that I think it hardly pos- 
 sible for the Art to make a more perfect likeness." 
 
 JUDGE CRANCH 
 
 " I cannot refrain from expressing my portion of thanks 
 to you for giving to the world so correct a delineation of 
 the features of him whose character the world has so long 
 kno'wn and admired. 
 
 "As the generation of those who knew Washington, 
 when living, is rapidly passing away, and posterity may be 
 anxious to know which, among the many Portraits of him, 
 is the most faithful ; and as, during the last six years of 
 his life, I had many opportunities of seeing him in the 
 domestic circle, and of studying his countenance, with an 
 intensity in some degree proportioned to the interest which 
 his services to his country, and his character had excited, 
 I beg leave to add my humble testimony, to that of those 
 who, from a more intimate acquaintance, feel as well as 
 see, a likeness where a stranger would not, — to the perfect 
 resemblance which you have transferred to canvas. * * * 
 I do not hesitate in saying that, of all the Portraits 
 of him Avhich I have seen, yours is by far the most perfect 
 likeness." 
 
 COL. B. TALLMADGE. 
 
 " Having served under the immediate command of 
 General Washington through the Revolutionary War; and 
 having been often with him during his subsequent political 
 life, I think I have had opportunities to see him in almost 
 all conditions of his variegated life. Although many ex- 
 cellent Portraits have been taken of him, I have never 
 seen one, until this day, that seemed to combine a good 
 
11 
 
 likeness of his person, with that peculiar expression of 
 countenance which never failed to impress every one who 
 beheld him. I am free to acknowledge that your Portrait 
 of Washington embodies more character with a good like- 
 ness than I have ever yet seen on canvas." 
 
 AVM. RUSH. 
 
 '• I have seen your Portrait of Washington — I think it 
 the best likeness of him, when in the vigour of life, I ever 
 saw on canvas. 
 
 " I had many opportunities of seeing and observing his 
 person, and particularly his face and features, in the time 
 of the Revolution — I have been in battle immediately 
 under his command — I have viewed him frequently 
 on horseback and on foot — walking, standing, sitting. 
 * * * I have modelled him as large as life and in minia- 
 ture, in wood and in clay, repeatedly ; and I think I have 
 not erred in what I have stated as to the truth of your 
 Portrait of Washington, particularly at the time he was 
 Commander-in-chief of the Army of the Revolution." 
 
 COLONEL McLANE. 
 
 " In almost all the trying scenes, from the time of 
 Washington's appointment in 1775, until the close of the 
 War, I had frequent opportunities to see and mark his 
 impressive countenance: At the Battle of Long Island, in 
 August 1776, whilst reporting to him the situation of that 
 part of our Army engaged on the road from Brooklyn to 
 the Narrows, I well remember his resolute and animated 
 countenance under adverse circumstances: so also at the 
 various conflicts on the Brandywine in 1777, until the 
 evacuation of Philadelphia by the British in 1778, and at 
 the Battle of Monmouth soon after : so also, in the cam- 
 paigns of 1779, 1780, and 1781, and until AYashington 
 
12 
 
 laid down liis Commission at Annapolis in 1783, I fre- 
 quently saw and conversed with tlie Commander-in-chief: 
 I was also present at his Installation as President, in 1789, 
 at New York, and occasionally saw him afterwards, until 
 it pleased Providence to close his illustrious career in 1799. 
 I mention the scenes and the times in order that you may 
 decide whether I am not competent to give the opinion 
 you ask ; I will then say, that I have with pleasure exa- 
 mined many Portraits of our departed Chief, but that 
 yours is the most faithful likeness of the Original I have 
 ever seen." 
 
 COL. 11. W'HARTON. 
 
 " Having had occasion to visit your Gallery of Paintings, 
 I was forcibly struck with the strong resemblance which 
 your Portrait of Washington bore to the Original. * * * 
 The Portrait painted by you exhibits the strong lineaments 
 of face and expression with which he addressed the 
 squadron of cavalry from his quarters in this city, after 
 they had escorted him from Chester on his way to take 
 command of our Army, during Mr. Adams's administration. 
 I pretend not to be a connoisseur in the Art of painting, 
 nor have I the vanity to believe that any opinion of mine 
 can add validity to the mass of evidence which you have 
 obtained relative to your Washington. In my mind it 
 bears more resemblance to the living features of our de- 
 parted Chief than any which has ever met my view." 
 
 JUDGE THATCHER. 
 
 "I cannot omit to proifer my grateful acknowledg- 
 ments for the high gratification which I have recently 
 enjoyed in viewing your excellent Portrait of General 
 Washington. I do not profess to be a connoisseur in the 
 Art of Painting, but according to my conception you have. 
 
13 
 
 with peculiar justness and accuvacy, portrayed the linea- 
 ments and featuies of that illustrious personage in a style 
 surpassing all other attempts at the same object which has 
 fallen under my observation. It revives in my mind a 
 pleasing recollection of that noble and expressive counte- 
 nance and dignified presence which, during the llevolu- 
 tionary War, I so often contemplated with veneration and 
 delight. The appearance of General Washington, when 
 mounted on his lofty steed, was inimitably majestic and 
 graceful, and your Equestrian Portrait, representing him 
 at Yorktown, is strikingly characteristic, and forms a 
 spectacle peculiarly sublime and interesting." 
 
 GENERAL DANIEL UDREE. 
 
 " Your Portrait of Gen. Washington is the best likeness 
 that my eyes ever beheld — a glow of enthusiasm made my 
 heart warm with gladness to see the same — and I thought 
 that he looked as well as at the Battles of Brandywine 
 and Gerraantown. 
 
 "I had the honour to command Five hundred men at 
 the outpost of the left wing of our Army at the Battle of 
 Brandywine, and enjoyed the pleasure of seeing him often 
 afterwards." 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON CUSTLS. 
 
 "Agreeably to your wishes, I will give you my opinion 
 of 'Peale's Washington.' Possessing four Original Pic- 
 tures, reliques of Mount Vernon, preserving on the retina 
 of memory his beloved Image, perfect as when last I 
 saw him, felt the warmth of his embrace, and heard the 
 accents of parental kindness from his lips, I can ' speak 
 of him as he was — nothing extenuate.' 
 
 " The figure is decidedly correct,* the complexion rather 
 
 * Iq allusion to the Equestrian Portrait. 
 
14 
 
 more bronzed than liis natural colouring, wHcli was fair, 
 though considerably florid ; the eye deep sunken, blue, 
 mild and thoughtful — the never to be forgotten expression 
 of countenance, venerable from years, which awes, and 
 will continue to awe, the world, not by the splendid attri- 
 butes of power, but by the sublimity of Virtue. 
 
 " Take it as a whole, the getting up of Peale's "Wash- 
 ington,* its likeness, its classic embellishments and execu- 
 tion, are worthy of the subject, and shed a lustre on the 
 School of American Arts, so deservedly celebrated both at 
 home and abroad." 
 
 RUFUS KING. 
 
 " I am not competent to speak of the merit of the Por- 
 trait as a specimen of Art ; but to its fidelity as a like- 
 ness I willingly bear testimony." 
 
 GEN. R. G. HARPER. 
 
 " I express to you with great pleasure my opinion of 
 your fine Portrait of Washington. * * *' His features 
 and his character are, in my opinion, far more accurately 
 represented in your Portrait, than in any other which has 
 fallen under my notice." 
 
 GOV. OLIVER WOLCOTT. 
 
 "Without intending to draw comparisons between the 
 productions of eminent Artists, who delineated the person 
 of this illustrious man, at other periods of his life, in 
 different attitudes, and during various degrees of intellec- 
 tual excitement, I may confidently assert that your Por- 
 trait is a fair and just representation, highly honourable to 
 you as an Artist." 
 
 * In allusion to the Senatorial Portrait. 
 
15 
 
 CHARLES WILLSON PEALE. 
 
 " My first acquaintance with Washington, "who was then 
 a Colonel of the Alexandria Militia, was in 1772, at 
 Mount Vernon ; where I painted his Portrait, and those 
 of several members of his family, conversing daily with 
 him during several weeks. This intimacy continued till 
 the close of his life. 
 
 " After he received the appointment of Commander-in- 
 chief of the Armies of the thirteen Colonies, I painted his 
 Portrait for Mr. John Hancock, the first President of 
 Congress, and subsequently, several others for some of the 
 States, and different Individuals, as well as for my own 
 Gallery of distinguished Characters : Whilst sitting for 
 one of them (a Miniature for Mrs. Washington), he re- 
 ceived despatches communicating the surrender of Bur- 
 goyne. In short, I had frequent opportunities of being 
 with him during the Revolutionary War, as I commanded 
 a company of Philadelphia Militia, and was at the battles 
 of Trenton and Princeton. I was often with him in Camp 
 and in the City of Philadelphia, where several of my like- 
 nesses were taken. 
 
 " Now, notwithstanding the celebrity of the last Portrait 
 by Stuart, and the success of my own last Original, both 
 of which were painted in 1795, I feel assured that my son, 
 after repeated attempts, during many years, has succeeded 
 in producing a Portrait of Washington that surpasses all 
 others ; particularly the Study for his Equestrian Portrait, 
 which is the most perfect likeness of him I have ever seen 
 — true in form, and fine in the expression of his counte- 
 nance — and this, I find is the judgment of all who have 
 seen it, and were at all acquainted with Washington." 
 
16 
 
 f riiit nf ffilasljingtoii 
 
 A CAREFULLY EXECUTED 
 
 OF THE FULL SIZE, 
 
 DRAWN BY 
 
 PLpmfipflnbf "JPfhIp, 
 
 FEOM HIS ORIGINAL PORTRAIT. 
 
 In executing this Work himself (instead of confiding it 
 to the hand of another, who had never seen the living 
 Original), he has endeavoured to meet the public expecta- 
 tion ; as the essential traits of character have become 
 familiar to him, by having made many Copies of this 
 Portrait : Each possessor of a Print, therefore, will own, 
 at a moderate cost, what is effectively equivalent to an 
 Original Drawing. 
 
 Impressions of the Print may be had on application to 
 him. No. 502 Vine Street, Philadelphia. 
 
 N.B. It is his intention (life permitting) to make a few 
 facsimile Copies in Oil from his Original Portrait. 
 
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