Up Close with George Washington

Gilbert Stuart drew from European traditions of state portraiture to evoke Washington’s military and civic leadership. The pose Stuart chose for the president is believed to allude to Washington’s annual address in front of Congress in December 1795.

The artist surrounded Washington with symbols of American democracy, such as an embedded flag in the frame of his chair.

The table's legs are adorned with American eagles.

The books below the table refer to Washington’s roles as commander of the American army and as president of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. They are titled General Orders, American Revolution, and Constitution & Laws of the United States.

The books on the table document the new nation. They are titled Federalist—referring to The Federalist Papers that John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton wrote in 1787–88—and the Journal of Congress, which recorded the everyday actions and votes of Congress.

The ornate chair and table, the columns, and the curtain, while fictional, represent the hall of Congress.

A rainbow in the background, breaking through a stormy sky, symbolizes peace and prosperity after the American Revolution.

Washington bears an ornamental sword as an emblem of his role in winning the American Revolution and as commander in chief.

Its success as a presidential image was immediate. As the only full-length portrait that depicts Washington as president rather than as a general, the image was much admired by political supporters, who commissioned versions for themselves.

Today, the iconic image remains a national treasure to the American people.