Lady Washington
Medium
Mezzotint with hand coloring
Dimensions
sheet with text: 12 5/8 x 9 1/2 in. (32 x 24.1 cm) (irregular)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924
Accession Number
24.90.213
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created shortly after 1776, this hand-colored mezzotint portrays Martha Washington, affectionately known as “Lady Washington” during the Revolutionary. As the wife of George Washington, she became a symbol of quiet strength and patriotism, supporting the Continental Army through her presence at winter encampments and her role in shaping the image of the new nation’s leadership. The medium itself is noteworthy. Mezzotint engraving, prized in the eighteenth century for its rich tonal range and velvety textures, allowed artists to reproduce painted portraits with remarkable depth. Here, delicate hand-applied color enhances the print’s warmth and individuality, transforming a multiple into a unique object meant for private homes rather than grand galleries. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum through the bequest of Charles Allen Munn, this work reflects the early American desire to circulate images of national figures. It stands as both an intimate keepsake and a testament to the printmaker’s craft in shaping public memory of the founding generation.
About the Artist
Joseph Hiller, Sr.|Charles Willson Peale|Martha Washington|Samuel Blyth (American|American|American|American) · 1747 |1741 |1732 |1744 –1814 |1827 |1799 |1795
American, Boston 1747/48–1814 Lancaster, Massachusetts|American, Chester, Maryland 1741–1827 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|American, 1732–1799|American, 1744–1795