List of paintings of George Washington

George Washington was an American general of the Continental Army, first president of the United States, from 1789 to 1797, and one of the country's many Founding Fathers.[1][2] Washington led patriot forces in the American Revolutionary War against the British Empire; Washington and the Continental Army defeated British forces on October 19, 1781.[3][4]

Washington presided over the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, which drafted the Constitution of the United States. Washington was succeeded by John Adams who was previously the vice president.[5]

He died on December 14, 1799, at age 67 from a throat infection, likely acute bacterial epiglottitis; he was entombed at Mount Vernon estate in Fairfax County, Virginia, with his wife, Martha Washington, being entombed next to him when she died in 1802.[6][7][8][9]

Washington was painted many times throughout his life due to his high importance in the United States.[10][11] Because he was also the first president of the United States, people wanted official portraits for government buildings, statehouses, and public institutions.[12] There were also no cameras during his lifetime, as they were invented about 50 years after he died, meaning paintings were the main way to preserve his likeness.[13][14]

One of the most iconic paintings of Washington is the Athenaeum Portrait, an unfinished portrait painted by American painter Gilbert Stuart in 1796.[15] Stuart later used the painting as a reference for other copies and adaptations.[16] The portrait is also used as the engraving on the United States one-dollar bill.[17]

Paintings

Portraits

Image Title Location Date Artist Ref.
An oil painting showing George Washington wearing his colonel's uniform at the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War Portrait of George Washington Washington and Lee University 1772 Charles Willson Peale [18]
An oil painting showing George Washington after the battle of Princeton in 1777 in a uniform with his left hand on a cannon Washington at Princeton Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 1779 Charles Willson Peale [19]
An oil painting showing George Washington standing near his enslaved servant William Lee. Washington is overlooking the Hudson River in New York George Washington (Trumbull) Metropolitan Museum of Art 1780 John Trumbull [20]
An oil painting showing George Washington in his uniform during the American Revolutionary. Portrait of George Washington (Wright)


Unknown 1783 Joseph Wright [1]
An oil painting showing George Washington in blue with his head tilted, looking to the far left of the canvas George Washington (Pine) National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC 1785 Robert Edge Pine [21]
An oil painting showing George Washington in a navy and gold uniform George Washington (1732-1799) Harvard Art Museums 1789 Edward Savage [22]
An oil painting showing George Washington standing next to a white horse. Washington has his right hand on the back of the horse as it's looking down. George Washington (Trumbull, 1790) New York City Hall 1790 John Trumbull [23]
An oil painting showing George Washington at Verplanck's Point with his right hand on a white horse as it's looking down. Washington at Verplanck's Point Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library 1790 John Trumbull [24]
An oil painting showing George Washington in his uniform during the American Revolutionary War. Behind Washington is a green background that fades to black. George Washington (Polk) Metropolitan Museum of Art 1790 Charles Peale Polk [25]
An oil painting showing the side profile of George Washington in his uniform during the American Revolutionary War. Behind Washington is a dark brown background. George Washington (Wright) Cleveland Museum of Art 1790 Joseph Wright [26]
An oil painting showing George Washington at Trenton, New Jersey; a white horse is attacking a person behind Washington. General George Washington at Trenton Yale University Art Gallery 1792 John Trumbull [27]
An oil painting showing George Washington's body facing to the right of the canvas with Washington himself staring at something not visible in the painting. George Washington (Trumbull) Unknown 1793 John Trumbull [28]
An oil painting showing George Washington looking directly at the viewer with his body facing to the far right of the canvas. Behind Washington is a wine-red background that fades into black. Vaughan Portrait National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. 1795 Gilbert Stuart [29]
An oil painting showing George Washington facing to the far right of the canvas, looking directly at the viewer. Behind Washington is a green curtain; you can also see parts of the environment outside. Gibbs-Channing-Avery Portrait Metropolitan Museum of Art 1795 Gilbert Stuart [30]
An oil painting variant of the Gibbs-Channing-Avery portrait, except instead of Washington wearing black, he is wearing a brownish-orange color, with his collar buttons being gold. The background is much more saturated, and Washington appears pale. George Washington (Stuart) Frick Collection 1795 Gilbert Stuart [31]
An oil painting showing George Washington facing to the far left of the canvas. Washington is wearing black, and behind him is a wine red background. George Washington (Peale) National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. 1795 Rembrandt Peale [32]
An oil painting showing George Washington facing to the far left of the canvas. Washington is wearing black, and behind him is a brown background that fades into black. George Washington (Peale) Collection of the New York Historical Society, New York 1795 Charles Willson Peale [1]
An oil painting showing George Washington's body facing to the left while Washington himself is looking directly at the viewer. Washington is wearing black. George Washington (Wertmuller) Metropolitan Museum of Art 1795 Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller [33]
An oil painting showing George Washington's side profile George Washington (Sharples) National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. 1796 James Sharples [34]
An oil painting showing George Washington pointing towards a table with a red cloth and gold leg. Washington stands tall and straight. There is also a window showing land behind him. Lansdowne Portrait National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. 1796 Gilbert Stuart [35]
This painting, called the Athenaeum Portrait, shows the original unfinished painting. The bottom half of George Washington, the sitter, is missing as well as his arms and hands. Athenaeum Portrait[a] Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1796 Gilbert Stuart [36]
An oil painting of George Washington in a suit at his studio in Philadelphia. Washington has a sword resting on his lap Constable-Hamilton Portrait Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 1797 Gilbert Stuart [37]
An oil painting variant of the Portrait of George Washington by Thomas Sully. This copy appears more detailed and less cartoonish. Munro-Lenox Portrait National Portrait Gallery, London 1797 Gilbert Stuart [38]
An oil painting variant of the Athenaeum Portrait that appears to be a finished version of the original, unfinished painting. The background has a gold hue that fades into black. George Washington is wearing black. George Washington (Stuart, Williamstown) Unknown 1803 Gilbert Stuart [39]
An Enamel on copper painting of George Washington. His body is facing to the left of the canvas while Washington himself is looking at something not visible in the canvas. Behind Washington is a bright Orangey yellow background that fades into black. George Washington (Birch) National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. 1810–1820 William Birch [40]
An oil painting showing George Washington standing by a red table and chair with his right hand on a piece of paper and his left griping a sword Portrait of George Washington (Sully) Minneapolis Institute of Art 1820 Thomas Sully [41]
An oil painting showing George Washington sitting down at a red table with his right hand on a piece of paper and his left hand resting in his lap. Portrait of George Washington (Stuart) Louvre Abu Dhabi 1822 Gilbert Stuart [42]
An oil painting showing George Washington on a horse before arriving at Yorktown Washington before Yorktown National Gallery of Art 1824 Rembrandt Peale [43]
An oil painting showing George Washington riding a brown horse while holding a black hat in his right hand. In the background a battle is taking place General George Washington (Sully) Private collection 1842 Thomas Sully [44]
An oil painting in a stone oval frame showing George Washington in his uniform during the American Revolutionary War George Washington (Peale) Metropolitan Museum of Art 1846 Rembrandt Peale [45]
An oil painting showing George Washington as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. General George Washington (Peale) De Young Museum 1850 Rembrandt Peale [46]
This painting called "Portrait of George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton" shows George Washington at a halt on a white horse. The horse has his right leg lifted slightly in the air. Washington is pointing his sword to the far left of the canvas; he is also looking in the same direction. Portrait of George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton Tuscaloosa Museum of Art 1856 John Faed [47]
A fresco painting of George Washington sitting among the Heaven clouds becoming an apotheosis The Apotheosis of Washington United States Capitol 1865 Constantino Brumidi [48]
A painting of George Washington with Masonic symbolism holding a scroll and trowel Washington as a Freemason Strobridge Lithographing Company 1866 George Washington Masonic National Memorial [49]
An oil painting showing George Washington in his studio gripping his sword with his left hand and his right hand resting on his desk. George Washington (Cadena) White House Historical Association 1877 Luis Cadena [50]
An oil painting of George Washington on a white horse with his right hand in the air holding a black hat. Washington is looking at the ground while riding through it Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on his way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States Thomas Edison State University 1930 N. C. Wyeth [51]
Shadows of Liberty Titus Kaphar 2016 Yale University Art Gallery [52]

Landscapes

Image Title Location Date Artist Ref.
An oil painting of George Washington, his wife Martha Washington, two of Martha Washington's grandchildren, and a Black servant. All the Washingtons are sitting at a table while the Black servant is standing behind Martha Washington. The Washington Family National Gallery of Art 1789 Edward Savage [53]
An oil painting showing George Washington on a white horse passing Delaware with his Continental Army The Passage of the Delaware Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1819 Thomas Sully [54]
An oil painting showing George Washington resigning his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to the Congress of the Confederation. About 30 people are standing around Washington on the main floor and on the upper gallery General George Washington Resigning His Commission United States Capitol rotunda 1824 John Trumbull [55]
An oil painting showing George Washington crossing the icy Delaware river with his Continental Army Washington Crossing the Delaware Metropolitan Museum of Art 1851 Emanuel Leutze [56]
An oil painting showing George Washington in his final days. Washington is in a white robe lying on his bed surrounded by family and friends, some of whom are kneeling by his side and some are standing over him. Washington on His Deathbed Dayton Art Institute 1851 Junius Brutus Stearns [57]
An oil painting showing George Washington arriving to New York City via a boat. The Arrival of George Washington at New York City, April 30, 1789 New York Historical 1870 Arsène-Hippolyte Rivey [58]
An oil painting showing George Washington as a land surveyor surveying land from a cliff. George Washington, surveyor Unknown 1948 Henry Hintermeister [59]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ This painting was never complete, although many complete copies exist.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Life Portraits of George Washington | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  2. ↑ Anonymous (February 5, 2016). "Washington, Washington Everywhere". npg.si.edu. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Timeline of the Revolution - American Revolution (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ Wallace, Willard M. (May 26, 2026). "American Revolution". Britannica.
  5. ↑ "John Adams: Campaigns and Elections | Miller Center". millercenter.org. October 4, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "George Washington". Smithsonian. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "The mysterious death of George Washington | Constitution Center". National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Where was George Washington's body interred today?". Grateful American® Foundation. December 11, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Part Of George Washington's Original Coffin From Mount Vernon". Gettysburg Museum Of History. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ "George Washington: Impact and Legacy | Miller Center". millercenter.org. October 4, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Treasures of the White House: George Washington". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Gilbert Stuart, "George Washington (The Lansdowne Portrait)" (1796) | PAFA - Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts". www.pafa.org. December 28, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Thomas Sully, Portrait of George Washington (1732-1799)". Minneapolis Institute of Art.
  14. ↑ Barratt, Carrie (May 1, 2009). "George Washington: Man, Myth, Monument". Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  15. ↑ "Why the Iconic Athenaeum Portrait of Washington was Never Finished| Art & Object". Art & Object. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Six Copies of the Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington (1732-1799) by Gilbert Stuart, (painting) | Smithsonian Institution". www.si.edu. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ Program, U. S. Currency Education. "Portrait of George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait)". www.uscurrency.gov. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ "George Washington Portrait by Charles Willson Peale | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ "George Washington at Princeton". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  20. ↑ "The Enslaved Household of President George Washington - Photo 7". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  21. ↑ "George Washington". npg.si.edu. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ Harvard. "George Washington (1732-1799) | Harvard Art Museums". harvardartmuseums.org. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  23. ↑ "John Trumbull - George Washington before the Battle of Trenton - American - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Archived from the original on March 2, 2026. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Washington at Verplanck's Point". www.amrevmuseum.org. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Charles Peale Polk - George Washington - American - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Archived from the original on March 15, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  26. ↑ "George Washington | Cleveland Museum of Art". www.clevelandart.org. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  27. ↑ "The Washington Collection: General Washington Print". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  28. ↑ "JOHN TRUMBULL (1756-1843)". Christie's.
  29. ↑ "George Washington (Vaughan portrait) by Gilbert Stuart". www.nga.gov. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Gilbert Stuart - George Washington - American - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Archived from the original on March 7, 2026. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  31. ↑ "George Washington". collections.frick.org. Archived from the original on October 1, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  32. ↑ "George Washington". npg.si.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Adolph Ulrich Wertmuller - George Washington - American - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  34. ↑ "George Washington". npg.si.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  35. ↑ "George Washington". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  36. ↑ "George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait)". npg.si.edu. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  37. ↑ "George Washington (Constable-Hamilton Portrait) | Smithsonian Institution". www.si.edu. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  38. ↑ "George Washington (1732-1799) (The Munroe-Lenox Portrait), (painting)". siris-artinventories.si.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  39. ↑ "George Washington Portrait by Gilbert Stuart | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  40. ↑ "George Washington | National Portrait Gallery". npg.si.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Portrait of George Washington –– Minneapolis Institute of Art". new.artsmia.org. Archived from the original on August 20, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Portrait of George Washington, 1822". Howard Shaw Fine Art. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Washington before Yorktown by Rembrandt Peale". www.nga.gov. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Thomas Sully (1783-1872)". Christies.
  45. ↑ "Rembrandt Peale - George Washington - American - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  46. ↑ Peale, Rembrandt (February 16, 2024). "General George Washington". World History Encyclopedia.
  47. ↑ "George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton". npg.si.edu. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Apotheosis of Washington | Architect of the Capitol". www.aoc.gov. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Washington as a Freemason". www.loc.gov. 1866. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  50. ↑ "George Washington, White House Collection". archives.whitehousehistory.org. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on his way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States by N.C. Wyeth (1930) – Trenton Historical Society". Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Shadows of Liberty Yale University Art Gallery". Yale University Art Gallery. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  53. ↑ "The Enslaved Household of President George Washington - Photo 8". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Thomas Sully's Passage of the Delaware". Wall Street Journal. November 19, 2010. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Resignation of Military Commission | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Emanuel Leutze - Washington Crossing the Delaware - American - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Archived from the original on April 21, 2026. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  57. ↑ Stearns, Junius Brutus (August 9, 2024). "Washington on his Deathbed". World History Encyclopedia.
  58. ↑ "The Arrival of George Washington at New York City, April 30, 1789". emuseum.nyhistory.org. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  59. ↑ Hintermeister, Henry (August 2, 2024). "George Washington as a Land Surveyor". World History Encyclopedia.
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