George Washington at Princetonc. 1779 · Study 1917.946

Context from the museum

Because Peale served under General Washington and befriended him during the Revolutionary War, he was an ideal candidate to commemorate Washington's important early victory at Princeton, NJ. Here, in the quiet aftermath of battle, the general is accompanied by his horse and a groomsman, identified by some scholars as William Lee, a mixed-race enslaved man Washington forced to work as his personal assistant. Also present is a line of captured British redcoat soldiers that animates the background at left. Peale produced several versions of this composition amid a rally of enthusiasm for the American cause. Whereas some were commissioned by American colonists—as in the case here—others were ordered by Washington's admirers in France, Spain, Holland, Cuba, and even England.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Artist and scientist Peale directed the first dig of a mastodon skeleton in the US.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for George Washington at Princeton is 121.6 cm wide and 131 cm high, equivalent to approximately 47.9 × 51.6 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.93:1. The rectangular bounding area is 1.59 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 40.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 89.2 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With George Washington at Princeton in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 121.6 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?