Questions

1. Explain what you think the picture’s symbolism means. Look carefully at Washington’s sword, the medallion on the chair, the weather outside the window, the books, the items on the desk, the decoration on the leg of the table, among other bits of iconography.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Questions: - Explain what you think the picture’s symbolism means. Look carefully at Washington’s sword, the medallion on the chair, the weather outside the window, the books, the items on the desk, the decoration on the leg of the table, among other bits of iconography.
2. What can you read in the picture about Washington’s personality and state of mind? Hint: his clenched expression may be the result of new false teeth.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Questions: - What can you read in the picture about Washington’s personality and state of mind? Hint: his clenched expression may be the result of new false teeth.
3. America’s image of Washington is largely the result of three paintings by Gilbert Stuart: this one, called the Lansdowne Portrait, and two others, the Athenaeum and the Vaughn, which just show his head. Apparently, Washington hated sitting for portraits; Stuart used a stand-in to model Washington’s body. In addition, at the time of the sitting Washington was having trouble: he was squabbling with his cabinet over relations with England; the press portrayed him as a monarch in the style of France’s Louis XIV; and he was in discomfort from his false teeth. Look carefully at the details of this portrait and consider whether Stuart was sympathetic to Washington’s woes—or not.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Questions: - America’s image of Washington is largely the result of three paintings by Gilbert Stuart: this one, called the Lansdowne Portrait, and two others, the Athenaeum and the Vaughn, which just show his head. Apparently, Washington hated sitting for portraits; Stuart used a stand-in to model Washington’s body. In addition, at the time of the sitting Washington was having trouble: he was squabbling with his cabinet over relations with England; the press portrayed him as a monarch in the style of France’s Louis XIV; and he was in discomfort from his false teeth. Look carefully at the details of this portrait and consider whether Stuart was sympathetic to Washington’s woes—or not.