Princeton University Art Museum Reopens with Reframed Charles Willson Peale Portrait of George Washington
The Princeton University Art Museum has welcomed back Charles Willson Peale's 1783 artwork, 'George Washington at the Battle of Princeton,' after being closed for five years. Originally commissioned by the university's trustees, this painting was exhibited for an impressive 236 years. Its reopening coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States and highlights the complexities between American ideals and its historical truths, such as Washington's slave ownership. The artwork is showcased in a frame that once belonged to King George II, accompanied by two busts of Washington: one crafted by William Rush around 1817 and another modern piece by Alan Michelson, which alludes to Washington's 1779 order to destroy Haudenosaunee settlements. This exhibition fosters discussions on democracy and historical memory.
Key facts
- Charles Willson Peale painted 'George Washington at the Battle of Princeton' in 1783.
- The painting was commissioned by Princeton University's trustees.
- It had been on continuous view at Princeton for 236 years before a five-year museum closure.
- The Princeton University Art Museum recently reopened after construction.
- The display coincides with the United States' 250th anniversary.
- The painting's frame originally housed a portrait of British King George II, with its crown removed.
- Washington owned more than 150 enslaved African Americans.
- In 1779, Washington ordered the 'total destruction and devastation' of Haudenosaunee settlements.
- The display includes a contemporary bust by Mohawk artist Alan Michelson titled 'Hanödaga:yas (Town Destroyer): Reflect.'
- Karl Kusserow is the John Wilmerding Senior Curator of American Art at the Princeton University Art Museum.
Entities
Artists
- Charles Willson Peale
- James Peale
- William Rush
- Alan Michelson
- John Trumbull
- Karl Kusserow
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
- Elias Boudinot
- Donald Trump
Institutions
- Princeton University Art Museum
- Princeton University
- Artnet News
- Continental Congress
- U.S. Capitol
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy
- Pierce Archive LLC
- Buyenlarge
- Getty Images
- PhotoQuest
- AFP
- POOL
Locations
- Princeton
- United States
- Washington, DC
- Philadelphia
- Nassau Hall
- U.S. Capitol Rotunda