The Arrival of George Washington at New York City, April 30, 1789

1870

Oil on canvas

Overall: 93 1/4 x 142 in. ( 236.9 x 360.7 cm )

Gift of George A. Zabriskie

1939.216

French artist Arsène Rivey painted this historical scene in 1870 after "First in Peace," an engraving published in 1866 by John McRae after a cartoon by Henry Brueckner. The painting was exhibited in 1889 in an exhibition commemorating the centennial of George Washington's inauguration. At the time, engraver and publisher Joseph Laing issued a leaflet with a key to the figures and reissued the McCrae engraving.

DescriptionFrom Joseph Laing's 1889 leaflet:
"The scene is the approach of Washington to the landing place at New York, on the 30th of April, 1789, when on his way to that city to be inaugurated the First President of the United States.
A triumphal arch, its canopy decorated with appropriate emblems, stands on the shore at the point of reception. On one side of it is the pine-tree flag of colonial New England, denoting the origin of the new government, and on the other side the national ensign. Under that arch are seen George Clinton, the Governor of the State of New York; Robert R. Livingston, the Chancellor of the State, who was to administer the oath of office to the Chief Magistrate; and David Provoost, D.D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York, who had been chosen Chaplain of the National Senate. On the right of these is seen a group of distinguished persons, among whom are Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury; his father-in-law, General Philip Schuyler; Marinus Willett, one of the early "sons of liberty" of New York and now its Mayor, and others of less note, with a group of ladies. . . .
Following the barge in which Washington is borne is a ship of war, its figure-head a Gladiator, but with a broken sword, indicative of the close of contest. On its deck are seen Commodore Barney and other naval commanders. . . .
At the door of the beautiful pavilion of the barge, whose figure-head is Liberty, are seen two notable characters, who were beloved by Washington. One is the venerable Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress, and the other the elegant Colonel David Humphreys, then Washington's Private Secretary. In a barge adjoining that of the President are seen other distinguished men, including the Committee who had formally received the President in behalf of the National Congress. Among these were John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States; General Henry Knox, the first Secretary of War; Samuel Osgood, the first Post Master General, and Ebenezer Hazzard, then acting in that capacity. In the immediate foreground is seen a boat with some sailors in it, also a canoe bearing an Indian warrior, mother, and child, indicating the fact that the hand of the savage, which had been active during the war, was now stayed from violence, and that the red man was at peace with the white man on American soil."

InscribedSigned, lower left: A. Rivey, Pinxt.

ClassificationsPAINTINGS