Rembrandt Peale's Washington portrait auctions for $662,500

Rembrandt Peale's famous portrait of US president George Washington has sold with excellent results as part of Heritage Auctions' May 11 Fine American Art Signature Auction in Dallas.

Rembrandt Peale Washington portrait
Peale's first portrait of the president was completed when the artist was just 17



A smaller "porthole" copy of Peale's world renowned depiction of the founding father, the piece sold for $662,500, making a 278.5% increase on the predicted $175,000 price tag.

It was joined by Peale's portrait of Martha Washington, George's wife, which also excelled at $158,500.

Rembrandt Peale was best known for his portraits of America's founding fathers, with the 1787 Washington example considered one of the finest depictions of the president ever created.

It was completed when Peale was just 17, and his presidential portraits would form the basis of his commercial art career from then on, with numerous copies commissioned by wealthy collectors.

In 1824, Peale went on to paint George Washington, Patriae Pater, which is considered the official portrait.

Showing the president as a classical hero, the work sees Washington clad in velvet finery against an ethereal background and set within an oval trompe-l'oeil stone frame, which is carved with an oak wreath and the head of Jupiter.

John McCrady's Steamboat 'Round the Bend, a 1946 piece that perfectly exemplifies the work of one of the 20th century's greatest Southern artists, saw the second highest bids of the sale.

Selling for $542,500, the work is a classic scene of boys playing on the banks of the Mississippi river, and a fantastic example of regionalism - a popular trend in early 20th century American art.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has an authentic strand of hair from George Washington, a collectible that takes you closer to the president than any portrait.

You can also form the beginnings of a formidable collection with our George Washington-signed lottery ticket, an exceedingly rare item.

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