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George Washington at Princeton
Charles Willson Peale, c. 1779
Charles Willson Peale served under General Washington and became his friend in the Revolutionary War, so he was a natural choice to commemorate Washington's early victory at Princeton, New Jersey. The Cleveland Museum of Art says the general is shown in the calm that follows the battle, with his horse and a groom.
Some scholars identify the groom as William Lee, a mixed-race enslaved man whom Washington forced to work as his personal assistant. A line of captured British soldiers in red coats adds movement in the background on the left.
Peale made several versions of the composition in a wave of enthusiasm for the American cause. This one is credited to Peale and workshop, and is about 131 by 122 centimetres without its frame.
From the museum record
| Artist | Charles Willson Peale |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1779 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Size | Unframed: 131 x 121.6 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Membership Income Fund |
| Accession number | 1917.946 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
