Member of the Washington Family

James Peale, Member of the Washington Family, ca. 1795, watercolor on ivory, sight 2 x 1 5⁄8 in. (5.1 x 4.1 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1950.10.2
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Artwork Details

Title
Member of the Washington Family
Artist
Date
ca. 1795
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 2 x 1 5⁄8 in. (5.1 x 4.1 cm) oval
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Subjects
  • Landscape
  • Portrait — unidentified — Washington
  • Portrait — unidentified — bust
  • Portrait — unidentified — child
Object Number
1950.10.2
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1950.10.2

Artwork Description

Family lore holds that this brooch pin features the portrait of an illegitimate son of George Washington, fathered when Washington was eighteen years old. Washington lent financial support to neighbors and members of his extended family at Mount Vernon, making it difficult to determine how accurate that legend is. One theory is that this is the likeness of Corbin Washington (1765-1799), who married Hannah Lee, a daughter of Richard Henry Lee, in whose family this miniature descended.

Works by this artist (16 items)

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James Peale, Portrait of a Gentleman, 1793, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Margaret Brennan, 2012.21
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Date1793
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
James Peale, Portrait of a Lady, 1817, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art (Museum Purchase, Gallery Fund), 2020.20.235
Portrait of a Lady
Artist
Date1817
oil on canvas
Not on view
James Peale, Elizabeth Knapp, 1802, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1937.11.1
Elizabeth Knapp
Artist
Date1802
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
James Peale, John Tower, 1806, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.35
John Tower
Artist
Date1806
watercolor on ivory
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman with Initials H. D. C., ca. 1795, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Rene Muller, 1980.95.1
Portrait of a Gentleman with Initials H. D. C.
Artist
Unidentified
Dateca. 1795
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
Unidentified, Portrait of a Lady, late 18th century, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.63
Portrait of a Lady
Artist
Unidentified
Datelate 18th century
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
Charles Willson Peale, Caldwell Sister, ca. 1782, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.31.1
Caldwell Sister
Artist
Dateca. 1782
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
Archibald Robertson, Brother-in-law of Mrs. Alexander Rose, ca. 1795, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1933.7.2
Brother-in-law of Mrs. Alexander Rose
Artist
Dateca. 1795
watercolor on ivory
Not on view