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Stuart painted three now famous portraits of the "Father of his Country." The first two were not to his satisfaction. His third and last opportunity came when Washington personally commissioned him in 1796 to paint Mrs. Washington and himself. This third picture satisfied Stuart to such an extent that he hated to part with it and he purposely left the background unfinished so that he could make copies and sell them before presenting the original. Washington, somewhat impatient, informed Stuart that he would accept a copy rather than wait so long for the original. So the original treasure remained with Stuart, and in 1831 was sold by his widow for $1,500.00 to the Washington Association of Boston, which association presented it to the Boston Athenaeum where it has been housed ever since.
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Martha Washington, by Gilbert Stuart, noted portrait painter of the 18th century.
Stuart painted three now famous portraits of the "Father of his Country." The first two were not to his satisfaction. His third and last opportunity came when Washington personally commissioned him in 1796 to paint Mrs. Washington and himself. This third picture satisfied Stuart to such an extent that he hated to part with it and he purposely left the background unfinished so that he could make copies and sell them before presenting the original. Washington, somewhat impatient, informed Stuart that he would accept a copy rather than wait so long for the original. So the original treasure remained with Stuart, and in 1831 was sold by his widow for $1,500.00 to the Washington Association of Boston, which association presented it to the Boston Athenaeum where it has been housed ever since.
Publisher: Garrison Toy & Novelty Co. (Washington, DC U.S.A.)
American
Medium/Technique
Chromolithograph on card stock.
Dimensions
Vertical: 14 x 8.9 cm (5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard A. Lauder Postcard Archive—Gift of Leonard A. Lauder
Accession Number2014.9405
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPostcards
DescriptionBack: divided. Mint.
GARRISON TOY & NOVELTY CO., WASHINGTON, D.C.
MADE IN U.S.A.
761N
GARRISON TOY & NOVELTY CO., WASHINGTON, D.C.
MADE IN U.S.A.
761N
ProvenanceBetween 1950 and 2011, acquired by Leonard A. Lauder, New York, from various postcard dealers in the United States, Canada and Europe; 2014, gift of Leonard A. Lauder to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 29, 2014)