A fine image of George Washington and family painted by Edward Savage. It is the only group portrait of America’s ‘first family’ from a life sitting. John Sartain (1808-1897) was born in England and became an apprentice to an engraver. He left for Philadelphia in 1830 where he remained for the rest of his life. He has been called the ‘father of mezzotint engraving in the United States’. He served as a director of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, now Moore College of Art and Design and worked as a painter in both oil and water colour as well as being a noted printmaker. Sartain also served as art director for the Centennial Exposition of 1876.

The Washington family sat for Savage in 1789-90 in New York. Moving to London from 1791-94 Savage did not resume work on the oil painting until his return. The finished work was first advertised as the main attraction at the Columbian Gallery, his private museum, on 20 February 1796. His own catalogue states that the papers on the table relate to his ‘Military Character’ and his ‘Presidentship’. The map laid out on the table is of the new District of Columbia. Martha Washington is described as ‘pointing with her fan to the grand avenue’ known now as Pennsylvania Avenue. The setting is believed to represent Mount Vernon which Savage had never visited. The Washington’s are shown with their grandchildren Eleanor and George Custis whom they adopted in 1781 when orphaned. Exhibition revenues and engravings derived from the image brought Savage a considerable income. References: National Gallery of Art, Andrew W Mellon collection.