Skip to main content
Advanced Search
1956-44,1, Painting
Miniature Portrait of George Washington (1732-1799)
1956-44,1, Painting

Miniature Portrait of George Washington (1732-1799)

Date1791-1792
Artist Archibald Robertson (1765-1835)
OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
MediumWatercolor on ivory in silver case with glass crystal
DimensionsOH: 2 1/2"; OW: 2 1/8"
Credit LineAcquisition funded by an anonymous donor
Object number1956-44,1
DescriptionMiniature painting; oval, bust-length portrait, one-quarter left, of man with gray hair (George Washington); he wears white neck-band with ruffle, plum colored coat with standing collar and matching waistcoat; the background shading from light blue to gray. Set in plain, conforming, silver case under glass.
Label TextThe miniature of George Washington was painted from life as a "first attempt" before doing a large portrait (now at Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire) commissioned by the 11th Earl of Buchan. Artist Archibald Robertson kept the miniature and its companion likeness of Martha Washington, stating that they were to remain in his family as "heirlooms" and as a memorial of his veneration for "the great and successful champion of American liberty."

The miniatures were painted within the six -week period between December 13, 1791, when Robertson arrived in Philadelphia, and the end of January 1792. John Trumbull, a close friend of the Washingtons and a renowned artist in his own right, commented in 1824 that "If we would behold the countenance of Washington ... when he begain to wane and had lost his teeth, Robertson's portrait is the best." One suspects that Martha's portrait, too, is probably the best glimpse we shall have of this woman in later years. Her contemporaries found Martha capable, gracious, and charming, and at her death she was memoralized as "the worthy partner of the worthiest of men."
MarkingsNone found. In November 1997, the miniatures' cases were examined under magnification by CWF metals curator John D. Davis, who found no markings now legible. (A mark on one of the two cases that conceivably may have been a maker's mark is now too abraded and distorted to read).
ProvenanceThis miniature and its companion portrait of George Washington were painted from life and probably executed during the same two-month period. Robertson kept the pair, recording that they were "to remain in his family as an heirloom, and memorial of his veneration for the great and successful champion of American liberty."

The pair descended to from the artist to his granddaughters, Mrs. S. M. Mygatt of Brooklyn, NY, and Mrs. C. W. Darling of Utica, NY; thence to Mrs. Mygatt's son, Otis Angelo Mygatt; thence to Kenneth Mygatt, a great-great grandson of the artist. The pair were purchased from Kenneth Mygatt by dealer John F. Fleming of New York, NY. CWF's funder acquired the pair from Fleming and presented them to CWF in 1956.