GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQUIER

Dateca. 1775

After work by Alexander Campbell

Publisher Thomas Hart

OriginEngland, London

MediumMezzotint with line engraving

DimensionsOH: 12 1/2" x OW: 10"; Plate H: 8 7/8" x W: 6 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1934-19

DescriptionThe lower margin reads: "GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQUIER/ peint par Alexander Campbell a Williambourg en Virginie/ General et Comandeur en Chef d'Armee des XII Provinces/ unies en Amerique./ Se vend a Londres chez Thom. Hart."
Label TextThis print of George Washington was published quickly in England to capitalize on current events, with the text translated to French to appeal to the American market. Although this portrait print is inscribed "Drawn from life by Alex.r Campbell of Williamsburg in Virginia," the identity of the artist is unknown. Washington wrote to Colonel Joseph Reed to thank him for sending him a copy of a print allegedly after Campbells work, nothing in January 1776 that, "Mr. Campbell whom I never saw to my knowledge, has made a very formidable figure of the Commander-in-Chief, giving him a sufficient portion of terror in his countenance." Alexander Campbell is assumed to be a fictitious name.

There are several other prints bearing this inscription. See 1934-20, 1934-19, and 1951-79.