George Washington, Porthole Portrait
Artist
Rembrandt Peale
(American, 1778–1860)
Dateafter 1824
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsImage: 36 1/4 x 29 3/16 in. (92.1 x 74.1 cm)
Frame: 46 x 39 x 4 1/4 in. (116.8 x 99.1 x 10.8 cm)
Frame: 46 x 39 x 4 1/4 in. (116.8 x 99.1 x 10.8 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1992.53
SignedLower left: Rembrandt Peale
InterpretationGeorge Washington, Porthole Portrait depicts George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States, as a heroic and idealized military commander. Set against an indistinct, cloud-filled background, the figure is framed within an illusionistic painted frame of weathered, cracked masonry, a motif inspired by Roman funerary and heroic portraiture. Washington's upper body faces the viewer directly, while his head turns slightly to one side and his gaze is lifted upward. Although Washington's recognizable features are rendered with carefully modeled naturalism, his elevated expression, the undefined setting, and the stone “porthole" that creates a sense of distance between viewer and subject all serve to emphasize the heroic ideal rather than the physical likeness of the individual. In this way, Peale merged portraiture with history painting, using an idealized representation to convey broader moral and civic virtues.
Peale began his career at the age of seventeen by painting Washington from life in 1795. His father, Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827), had been the first artist to portray Washington from life, so it is not surprising that Rembrandt, who shared the president’s birthday, would also aspire to capture his likeness. In 1824, more than a quarter-century after painting the life portrait, and many years after Washington's death, Rembrandt painted the prototype for his celebrated series of seventy-nine “porthole" portraits, of which the Terra Foundation's painting is one. In creating this image, he drew on his 1795 life portrait as well as on portraits by his father and fellow American painters Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) and John Trumbull (1756–1843). His most important source, however, was the plaster bust of Washington by French sculptor Jean Houdon (1741–1828) (circa 1786; National Portrait Gallery). Houdon’s sculpture, together with the artistic ideals Rembrandt encountered while studying in Paris in 1808 and again in 1809–10, shaped his embrace of neoclassicism. This influence is evident in the portrait’s crisply modeled features, elevated and timeless character, and the illustionistic, rounded stone frame, with its reference to classical antiquity.
Peale began his career at the age of seventeen by painting Washington from life in 1795. His father, Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827), had been the first artist to portray Washington from life, so it is not surprising that Rembrandt, who shared the president’s birthday, would also aspire to capture his likeness. In 1824, more than a quarter-century after painting the life portrait, and many years after Washington's death, Rembrandt painted the prototype for his celebrated series of seventy-nine “porthole" portraits, of which the Terra Foundation's painting is one. In creating this image, he drew on his 1795 life portrait as well as on portraits by his father and fellow American painters Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) and John Trumbull (1756–1843). His most important source, however, was the plaster bust of Washington by French sculptor Jean Houdon (1741–1828) (circa 1786; National Portrait Gallery). Houdon’s sculpture, together with the artistic ideals Rembrandt encountered while studying in Paris in 1808 and again in 1809–10, shaped his embrace of neoclassicism. This influence is evident in the portrait’s crisply modeled features, elevated and timeless character, and the illustionistic, rounded stone frame, with its reference to classical antiquity.
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
Face to Face: Portraits from the Collections of Terra Museum of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, October 8, 1994–April 2, 1995.
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 1997.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 12–August 27, 1997.
New Faces, New Places: Recent Additions to the Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, October 14–December 31, 2000.
Héroïque et le quotidien: les artistes américains, 1820–1920 (The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001. [exh. cat.]
American Classics: Selections from the Terra Foundation for the Arts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 26–September 1, 2002.
Deux collections en regard: oeuvres de la Terra Foundation for the Arts et du Detroit Institute of Arts (Side by Side: Works from the Terra Foundation for the Arts and the Detroit Institute of Arts), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 2–June 1, 2003. [exh. cat.]
Visages de l'Amérique: de George Washington à Marilyn Monroe (Faces of America: From George Washington to Marilyn Monroe), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2004. [exh. cat.]
Twarze Ameryki: Portrety z kolekcji Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940 (Faces of America: Portraits from the collection of the Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France and Miedzynarodowe Centrum Kultury (International Cultural Center), Crakow, Poland (organizers). Venue: International Cultural Center, Crakow, Poland, February 15–May 7, 2006. [exh. cat.]
Art Across America, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas; National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venues: National Museum of Korea, Seoul, February 4– May 12, 2013; Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, South Korea, June 7–September 1, 2013. [exh. cat.]
American Encounters: Portraiture in an Age of Revolution (New Frontier III, Portraits anglo-américains à l’heure de la Révolution) , Musée du Louvre, Paris, France, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia, and Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venues: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France, January 31–April 28, 2014; Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, May 17–September 15, 2014; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia September 28, 2014–January 18, 2015. [exh. cat.]
Face to Face: Portraits from the Collections of Terra Museum of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, October 8, 1994–April 2, 1995.
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 1997.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 12–August 27, 1997.
New Faces, New Places: Recent Additions to the Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, October 14–December 31, 2000.
Héroïque et le quotidien: les artistes américains, 1820–1920 (The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001. [exh. cat.]
American Classics: Selections from the Terra Foundation for the Arts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 26–September 1, 2002.
Deux collections en regard: oeuvres de la Terra Foundation for the Arts et du Detroit Institute of Arts (Side by Side: Works from the Terra Foundation for the Arts and the Detroit Institute of Arts), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 2–June 1, 2003. [exh. cat.]
Visages de l'Amérique: de George Washington à Marilyn Monroe (Faces of America: From George Washington to Marilyn Monroe), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2004. [exh. cat.]
Twarze Ameryki: Portrety z kolekcji Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940 (Faces of America: Portraits from the collection of the Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France and Miedzynarodowe Centrum Kultury (International Cultural Center), Crakow, Poland (organizers). Venue: International Cultural Center, Crakow, Poland, February 15–May 7, 2006. [exh. cat.]
Art Across America, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas; National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venues: National Museum of Korea, Seoul, February 4– May 12, 2013; Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, South Korea, June 7–September 1, 2013. [exh. cat.]
American Encounters: Portraiture in an Age of Revolution (New Frontier III, Portraits anglo-américains à l’heure de la Révolution) , Musée du Louvre, Paris, France, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia, and Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venues: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France, January 31–April 28, 2014; Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, May 17–September 15, 2014; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia September 28, 2014–January 18, 2015. [exh. cat.]
American Paintings III 1985. New York: Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc., 1985. Ill. p. 9 (black & white).
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-4. p. 113 (color).
Southgate, M. Therese. “The Cover." The Journal of the American Medical Association 269:7 (February 17, 1993): 861. Text p. 861; ill. cover (color).
George Washington, Porthole Portrait, Rembrandt Peale. Collection Cameo sheet, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 1997. Ill. (black & white).
Kennedy, Elizabeth and Sophie Lévy. Faces of America: Portraits of the Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, 1770–1940. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2004. Text p. 33 (checklist); ill. p. 38 (color).
Kennedy, Elizabeth and Sophie Lévy. Visages de l'Amérique: le portrait dans la collection de la Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1770–1940. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2004. Text p. 33 (checklist); ill. p. 38 (color).
Lévy, Sophie, et al. Twarze Ameryki: Portrety z kolekcji Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940/Faces of America: Portraits from the collection of the Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940. (exh. cat. International Cultural Center). Cracow, Poland: International Cultural Center, 2006. Text pp. 42–43, 64; ill. front cover (color), p. 65 (color).
Murphy, Kevin M. American Encounters: Anglo-American portraiture in an era of revolution. (exh. cat., Crystal Bridges Museum of Amerivcan Art). Bentonville, Arkansas: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 2013. Text p. 45, 47, 64, 66, 68; Cat. 3, p. 65 (color).
Art Across America. (exh. cat., National Museum of Korea, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Terra Foundation for American Art). Seoul, South Korea: National Museum of Korea, 2013. (English and Korean versions). Text p. 59; ill. p. 58 (color).
Saunders, Richard H. American Faces: A Cultural History of Portraiture and Identity. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 2016. Text p. 62. Ill. p. 62 (color, as George Washington (Patriae Pater)).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., and Peter John Brownlee, eds. Conversations with the Collection: A Terra Foundation Collection Handbook. Chicago: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2018. Text p. 32; ill. p. 32 (color).
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-4. p. 113 (color).
Southgate, M. Therese. “The Cover." The Journal of the American Medical Association 269:7 (February 17, 1993): 861. Text p. 861; ill. cover (color).
George Washington, Porthole Portrait, Rembrandt Peale. Collection Cameo sheet, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 1997. Ill. (black & white).
Kennedy, Elizabeth and Sophie Lévy. Faces of America: Portraits of the Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, 1770–1940. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2004. Text p. 33 (checklist); ill. p. 38 (color).
Kennedy, Elizabeth and Sophie Lévy. Visages de l'Amérique: le portrait dans la collection de la Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1770–1940. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2004. Text p. 33 (checklist); ill. p. 38 (color).
Lévy, Sophie, et al. Twarze Ameryki: Portrety z kolekcji Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940/Faces of America: Portraits from the collection of the Terra Foundation for American Art, 1770–1940. (exh. cat. International Cultural Center). Cracow, Poland: International Cultural Center, 2006. Text pp. 42–43, 64; ill. front cover (color), p. 65 (color).
Murphy, Kevin M. American Encounters: Anglo-American portraiture in an era of revolution. (exh. cat., Crystal Bridges Museum of Amerivcan Art). Bentonville, Arkansas: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 2013. Text p. 45, 47, 64, 66, 68; Cat. 3, p. 65 (color).
Art Across America. (exh. cat., National Museum of Korea, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Terra Foundation for American Art). Seoul, South Korea: National Museum of Korea, 2013. (English and Korean versions). Text p. 59; ill. p. 58 (color).
Saunders, Richard H. American Faces: A Cultural History of Portraiture and Identity. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 2016. Text p. 62. Ill. p. 62 (color, as George Washington (Patriae Pater)).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., and Peter John Brownlee, eds. Conversations with the Collection: A Terra Foundation Collection Handbook. Chicago: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2018. Text p. 32; ill. p. 32 (color).
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York
The Dietrich Collections, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Berry-Hill Galleries, Inc., New York, New York
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1985
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
There are no additional artworks by this artist in the collection.