George Washington

Object Details

Exhibition Label
This heroic sculpture depicts George Washington as a Roman emperor, a popular European tradition for representing political and military leaders. The portrait is based on a likeness modeled in Philadelphia in 1791 or 1792 by Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ceracchi, who came to the United States seeking the commission for a congressional monument to Washington (which was never made). A plaster cast of his life portrait of Washington was acquired in 1809 by Thomas Appleton, American consul in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy. A decade later, Italian sculptor Massimiliano Ravenna made several marble copies of the portrait for sale in the United States.
Provenance
(Peter Hill); purchased NPG 1970
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Attribution
Massimiliano Ravenna
Copy after
Giuseppe Ceracchi, 4 Jul 1751 - 31 Jan 1801
Sitter
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799
Date
c. 1819 copy after 1792 original
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
69.5cm (27 3/8"), Accurate
Type
Sculpture
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