Portrait Gallery

The Raleigh News & Observer, January 31, 1904, Page 4.

A New Portrait of Washington

The Last Portrait of George Washington

Painted in 1797 by Elisha Cullen Dick After the Original Painting, Owned by Judge James Alfred Pearce.

Notable among the February Century's illustrations will be a full-page portrait of General Washington, the copy of an original painting now for the first time introduced to the notice of the general public. The portrait was made from life by Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick, of Alexandria, Virginia, in 1797, and The Century's representation is taken from an excellent photograph of the original made by Getz, of Baltimore. In size the portrait is about fourteen by sixteen inches; it is in an excellent state of preservation, the colors being still fresh and bright, and is surrounded by a beveled gilt frame about two inches wide, which shows the marks of age and is believed to be the original one in which the picture was placed.

This portrait was painted for Washington himself, and was hung at Mount Vernon, and Washington directed that, at his death, it should be returned to Dr. Dick, together with the hunting horn he was accustomed to use. At Dr. Dick's death the portrait and hunting-horn were retained by his widow during her life, and at her death became the property of her grandson, the Hon. James Alfred Pearce. United States Senator from Maryland, by whom they were bequeathed to his son, the present Judge Alfred Pearce of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. It is understood that Judge Pearce has made provision that, at his death, both the portrait and the hunting horn shall be placed in the Maryland Room at Mount Vernon.

A New Portrait Of Washington, The Raleigh News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., January 31, 1904, Editorial Section, Page 4.

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