George Washington (1732-1799)

1800

Watercolor on ivory

Overall: 5 × 4 in. (12.7 × 10.2 cm)

Bequest of Mary Rhinelander King

1909.25

Grimaldi never painted Washington from life but is known to have copied portraits of him by John Trumbull and Gilbert Stuart. The present miniature is a half-length copy of the full-length portrait that Gilbert Stuart painted for the Marquis of Landsdowne in 1796. Grimaldi probably made his miniature from an engraving made by James Heath for the Hon. Rufus King, United States minister to the Court of St. James's in 1800, and great-grandfather of the donor.

MarkingsLabel: pasted on back of frame: "General Washington/Painted by W.Grimaldi, Enamel [torn]/Miniature painter to their Royal High[nesses]/the Duke & Duc[hess] of York-Albemarle street St James. London"

ClassificationsMINIATURES