George Washington [The Constable-Hamilton Portrait]

Artist Gilbert Stuart (1755 - 1828)

Date1797

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions50 x 40 in. (127 x 101.6 cm)
Framed: 59 in. × 46 3/4 in. × 4 1/2 in.

ClassificationsPainting

Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2005.27

Accession number 2005.27

On View

On view

Provenancecommissioned by William Kerin Constable [1752-1803] as a gift for Alexander Hamilton [1757-1804], 1797; to Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton [1757-1854] (his wife), 1804; to James Alexander Hamilton [1788-1878] (their son), 1854; to Alexander Hamilton [1816-1889] (his son), 1878; to Angelica Livingston Hamilton [1820-1896] (his wife), 1889; by bequest to The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, 1896; to (Sotheby's, Inc., New York, NY), November 30, 2005, lot 3; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2005
Label TextDoes this image of George Washington look familiar? The face of Washington on the one-dollar bill was based on another, similar painting by Gilbert Stuart. This painting helped establish an image of the first president as a powerful leader.

The painting also reflects friendship among the nation’s leading citizens. The merchant William Kerin Constable asked Stuart to paint this portrait for his friend Alexander Hamilton, who served as Secretary of the Treasury under Washington.
Markingsverso, on stretcher: ...155 / Hamilton [old paper label]
verso, on stretcher: Clea...2/8/9[5?]...with... [fragmentary paper label]