[General George Washington] [print]

[General George Washington] [print]

1 color photographic print ; on sheet 25 x 20 cm. in folder 31 x 25 cm.

P&E L2009D2m [mod]

This is a photograph of the oil painting of George Washington by Jean-Baptise Le Paon. It was the first image of George Washington painted in Europe and depects him as a relatively young man. It was painted for the Prince du Conde and was based on Peale's portrait of Washington originally painted for the President of the Contintental Congress, John Hancock, in 1776. Lafayette later asked Peale to paint a replica of the portrait as a miniature for him to take back to France in 1779.
This photograph appears to be a part of an offering of the Le Paon painting for sale. Over the years it has been in private hands, most recently in the private collection of Ralph B. Strassburger of Paris. The portrait was exhibited in public on one occasion; in the Salon du Correspondence in 1782 to celebrate the French and American defeat of the British at Yorktown.
This portrait was the basis of the engraving of Washington by Le Mire first published in 1780. The library has a framed copy of the engraving catalogued as P&E L1964.1067.2 framed, along with the companion framed engraving of Lafayette. There is also a book illustration that is a photomechanical print of the Le Mire engraving catalogued as P&E L1958.688.57m
A description of the oil painting, perhaps part of the sales offering, is filed with photograph.

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