Miniature Portrait, Martha Washington

Portraits

This watercolor miniature of Martha Washington was executed by James Peale near the end of Martha’s time as First Lady. She is portrayed at sixty-five, and her lively expression gives the portrait a lifelike characteristic. The reverse side of the portrait’s gold mounting contains a lock of Martha’s hair (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

James Peale

1796

portrait miniature, watercolor on ivory

eng

W-624

Miniature portrait, George Washington, by Charles Willson Peale (watercolor on ivory, 1776)

Portraits

After painting miniatures of Martha Washington and her children four years earlier, Charles Willson Peale was commissioned by Martha to portray her husband in a miniature. George was at the front and thus could not sit for the portrait, so Peale modeled it after an earlier full-size portrait of Washington that he had executed. The miniature portrays Washington in his military uniform as commander of the Continental Army (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Charles Willson Peale

1776

portrait miniature, watercolor on ivory

eng

W-460

Miniature portrait, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, by Charles Willson Peale (watercolor on ivory, 1772)

Portraits

This miniature portrait, painted in 1772 by Charles Willson Peale, is the earliest depiction of Martha after her marriage to George Washington and is a rare depiction painted before Washington’s presidential years. She is 41 years old at the time (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Charles Willson Peale

1776

portrait miniature, watercolor on ivory

eng

W-2102 A

Miniature portrait, John Parke Custis, by Charles Willson Peale (watercolor on ivory, 1772)

Portraits

This miniature portrait of John Parke (Jacky) Custis was executed by Charles Willson Peale. Jacky brought the painter with him to Mount Vernon when returning home from his studies in Annapolis. Jacky was eighteen when this portrait was painted. Peale also completed miniatures at this time of Jacky’s sister Martha Parke (Patsy) Custis, Martha Washington, and of George Washington (Courtesy of an anonymous lender. Image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Charles WIllson Peale

1772

portrait miniature, watercolor on ivory

eng

W-2355 B