Found just in the time for the 4th of July, this folk portrait of George Washington, based I believe of the earliest of Gilbert Stuart's Washington portraits: the Gibbs-Channing-Avery portrait, c. 1795. I love variations on a theme, and portraits of Washington are a great example--many many out there, all a little different, and of interest at least as much for what they reveal about the painter as the subject. I love the glow-y softness of this one, and find the gaze of this Washington a bit coy, and a bit seductive, making me think of the Mona Lisa as much as anything!:)
19th century, oil in canvas. 17 3/8" x 12 3/4" x 1" d. It appears the canvas was restretched or at least re-secured at some point, attached now with staples but showing old nail holes in the canvas on the sides. It shows lots of age, with a couple of spots of paint loss at lower right, and holding it up to light reveals some tiny (pin prick sized) holes in the canvas, mostly about Washington's head. Overall though it shows very well and has a very warm presence.
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