Standing Tall: Art for President’s Day 2021

Portraits of George Washington

Gilbert Stuart, 1796, oil paint, National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.

Thomas Sully, 1820, oil paint, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN

Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1785-1792, Carrara marble, Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA

Hiram Power, c. 1853, marble, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN

It is 2021; the United States has just inaugurated its 45th president (46 presidencies! Another story, another time!).

On this national holiday to honor all presidents, past and present, one will always stand out above the rest because he was the FIRST: George Washington. He was president during the late 1700s, before the invention of the camera and before modern social media for documentation. It was a time when quality painted portraits were highly regarded and absolutely necessary. I compare early American portrait painters to the European court painters who were commissioned by royalty to record important events and people throughout history.

Gilbert Stuart stands out as close as possible to a “court painter” of Who’s Who in America during its early days. He was swamped with commissions and could not meet the demand for them, so other painters made copies of Stuart’s portraits for government buildings and historical societies because Stuart could not do it all alone. These included many of George Washington; and many were life-size. Thomas Sully was one of the artists who copied Stuart’s work, adding unique touches to the portraits making them very much his own.

During this time, there was a resurgence of popularity of classical Greek and Roman art. Sculptors, both American and European, created Neo-classic portraits in marble and other stone. Their work echoed the influence of the Roman Republic on our newly formed United States form of government. The symbolism of this Roman/classical connection was utilized by artists in both portraiture and sculpture.

For discussion and another famous portrait of George Washington check out my recent blog “Power of Prayer.”

I’ve selected four portraits of George Washington that I feel represent the man, the artistic period, along with four famous artists. Two are life-size oil paintings and two are marble sculptures–and two are at home in our own Mia in Minneapolis, MN. I love including them in my Mia tours! Fortunately, they typically stand side-by-side at the museum.

A few years ago, the Mia had the honor of exhibiting side-by-side the portraits by Stuart and Thomas Sully (see below). It was fun to look at them together and note the similarities and differences of the two paintings. Both are life-size, both have the same pose and include many of the same symbolic objects. But each reflects the unique style and personality of each of the artists, Stuart and Sully.

In both paintings, one of the first things first noticed is Washington’s unusually clinched facial expression; credit given to Washington’s famous ill-fitting false teeth. (Poor guy!) A more natural expression can be seen on the marble sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon (see below).

Both paintings are full American as well as ancient Roman symbols of the Roman Republic as seen in the Doric columns behind him. Washington is dressed in a plain, simple, black velvet suit, his outstretched hand is oratorical in manner. His sword is a dress sword symbolizing a democratic form of government vs. a battle sword of a monarchy or military dictatorship. The President’s large black hat is behind these on the table.

The table in both paintings is packed with symbolism in, on and around it. Its leg is carved as a bundle of bound wooden rods (fasces) that symbolize imperial power and authority in ancient Rome. Books on and under the table symbolize Washington’s leadership as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the president of the Constitutional Convention. On the table, a pen and paper symbolize the rule of law and a silver inkwell emblazoned with Washington’s coat of arms alludes to his signing of the significant Jay Treaty. A white quill rests upon silver dogs, ancient symbols of loyalty.

In Stuart’s portrait, the red, white and blue colors of the American flag are seen in the medallion at the top of the chair. Out the window, storm clouds appear on the left, a rainbow on the right; this signifies the American Revolutionary War which would hopefully give way to peace and prosperity of the new United States after the 1783 Treaty of Paris.

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