George Washington Rodgers

Unidentified, George Washington Rodgers, ca. 1825, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Henry L. Milmore, 1950.4.32
Unidentified, George Washington Rodgers, ca. 1825, watercolor on ivory, 2 3⁄4 x 2 1⁄4 in. (7.1 x 5.8 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Henry L. Milmore, 1950.4.32
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Artwork Details

Title
George Washington Rodgers
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1825
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
2 3⁄4 x 2 1⁄4 in. (7.1 x 5.8 cm) oval
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Henry L. Milmore
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait male — Rodgers, George Washington — bust
Object Number
1950.4.32
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1950.4.32

Artwork Description

This miniature shows the naval officer George Washington Rodgers and was probably painted to commemorate his promotion to captain in 1825. While serving in Buenos Aires in 1832, he fell mortally ill with a “visceral inflammation” and was buried there. His body was later exhumed and reburied alongside that of his wife, Ann Perry, in New London, Connecticut. In this miniature, Rodgers’s stiff stock, high collar, and elaborately tied cravat suggest he is dressed for a formal military event. The portrait of Ann is also in this collection.