Lansdowne Portrait

The Lansdowne Portrait ( also Germanized Lansdowne Portrait) is a painting that George Washington, the first President of the United States of America represents. It was commissioned in April 1796 by Senator William Bingham, one of the richest men in the United States, and his wife, Anne, in order. The painting was bestowed upon its completion as a sign of recognition William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and 1st Marquess of Lansdowne. Petty had supported as an English parliament the independence of the 13 American colonies.

The painter Gilbert Stuart, which is still painted other images of Washington and several other revolutionaries, presented the painting in the fall of 1796 finished. It shows Washington at the age of 64 for refusing a third term as president of the United States of America.

Today, the picture in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, part of the Smithsonian Institution, copies are located both in the House and in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol depends. From the cultural importance ago the painting is partly compared with the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell.

Analysis

The painting is rich in symbolism, both American as well as those of the ancient Roman Republic. Washington is shown on the left, in a suit of black velvet, hand outstretched in the gesture of the orator - awesome and stern, yet open and accessible. In the background you can see two pairs of Doric columns, draped with purple cloth and golden Bordeln.

His suit is kept very simple, the sword at his side is not a battle sword, but ceremonial in nature, which should express a democratic self-understanding. In the sky, the storm clouds on the left through the rainbow on the right side are displaced; a symbol of the peace of the new United States, the 1783 War of Independence displaced after the Peace of Paris. The medallion is mounted on the chair, already shows the now traditional red, white and blue of the new Republic.

The table base is designed as a fasces, the ancient Roman symbol of power. On the table are two books: Federalist ( Federalist ), probably an allusion to the Federalist Papers, and Journal of Congress, the records of the activities of the Congress of the United States. Under the table you can see five more volumes that are recognizable Title: General Orders, American Revolution and Constitutional Bylaws - symbol of Washington's dominance through the Continental Army and Presidency of the Philadelphia Convention. Paper and pen on the table represent the power of the law. The silver inkwell bears the arms of Washington, the spring rests on silver dogs, symbols of fidelity.

Washington pinched facial expression is due to his famous false teeth. Stuart wrote:

"When I painted him [Washington ], he had just had a set of false teeth inserted, Which accounts for the constrained expression so notice able about the mouth and lower part of the face ... Houdon 's bust does not suffer from this defect. "

"When I painted him [Washington ], he had just gotten adjusted a bit, what the pinched expression explains the noticeable around the mouth and the lower half of the face ... Houdon's bust does not suffer from this bug. "