The Washington Family

Edward Savage

National Gallery of Art

This grayscale print depicts a family scene with four people at a table and another person in the background. On the left, an older man with light skin and white hair is seated on an ornate chair with his legs crossed. He has a long nose and thin lips in a neutral expression. He is dressed in what appears to be a military uniform, with a long, buttoned coat over a white shirt and knee-high boots with buckles. He faces the right, and his left arm rests on a table at the center of the print that is covered with a draped black cloth. Upon it are papers, a large map, and a sword. To the left of the seated man, a young boy stands with his hand on a large globe. The boy has light skin, and he is wearing a gray jacket, waistcoat, and breeches. On the other side of the round table, a seated woman faces the left. She has light skin and white hair under a tall white bonnet. She wears an elaborate white gown with gray lace details. She is holding part of the map that is on the table. Standing next to the woman, behind the table, is a young lady with light skin, shown from the knees up in an ornate dress with tight sleeves, holding the edge of the map. On the right, a man stands at the edge of the scene, behind the two women. He has dark skin and black hair pulled back from his face, and he wears an elaborate suit with a high-collared jacket over a buttoned waistcoat and a white shirt. His left hand is tucked inside his jacket. The setting features an elegant room with large, draped curtains and a round column on the left. The partial view of a window or alcove in the background shows trees and a light sky.