Equestrian Portrait of George Washington 

Rembrandt Peale painted this equestrian portrait of George Washington in the United States at an unknown date. The image participates in a long European tradition of portraying monarchs on horseback to assert their power. Here, that visual language is redeployed in the service of a new republic. Washington's calm demeanor is emphasized by the white horse, symbolic of purity and wisdom. In the background, a battle rages, possibly a reference to the American Revolution, but the new president is above the fray. The painting also reflects the institutional context of early American art. Peale came from a family of artists, and portraiture was a vital way for them to make a living. This painting attempts to attach the aura of European royalty to the figure of Washington, but it does so in a way that is self-consciously American, projecting a more modern kind of leadership. Art historical research into the Peale family and the political history of the United States helps us to understand the social forces that shaped this image.