General Washington
Name/Title
General WashingtonEntry/Object ID
2002.001.006Description
General Washington. Stipple Engraving by Thomas Cheesman, after original painting by John Trumbull, Esq. Published in London by A.C. DePoggi, June 1796.Artwork Details
Subject Person
Washington, GeorgeContext
"A very rare 'open letter' proof of Cheesman's engraving of this famous image of "George Washington at Trenton": apparently a presentation copy from Trumbull. "Presented to...Davis by his friend Col. Trumbull" Following the success of his earlier portrait of Washington, when Trumbull was sent to London with John Jay in 1794, he took the opportunity of arranging for Cheesman to make an engraving of his second major portrait of Washington. 'This painting [now at Yale University], sometimes considered the best portrait of Washington as a general, was commissioned by the city of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1792...Trumbull considered it the "best of those I have painted, and the best, in my estimation, which exists, in his heroic military character". Choosing to depict Washington in a dramatic moment of decision the evening before the surprise attack, Trumbull wrote that he intended "to give his military character, the most sublime moment of its exertion."" (Wick, p. 51). Thomas Cheesman (1760? - 1835), who was recognized as the best of Francesco Bartolozzi's pupils, produced a first proof sometime in 1795, followed by the present open-letter proof dated June 1796, with the finished print being published on 1 August 1796. The penciled inscription to the lower left corner of the present example indicates that it was presented by Trumbull to his friend Mr. Davis.Collection
Historic Charleston Foundation CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2002.001.Source or Donor
Purchase - VariousAcquisition Method
PurchasedCredit Line
Museum Acquisition FundMade/Created
Artist Information
Trumbull, John
Chessman, Thomas