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1860 Print Courtship George & Martha Washington

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Washington Related

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c. 1860, Courtship of George and Martha Washington Print, New York, Choice Extremely Fine.
19" x 24", engraved print entitled, "The Courtship of Washington." The print resembles a family portrait, with Martha Dandridge Custis seated in a chair, encumbered by her children; her daughter, Martha Parke Custis, drapes herself across her mother's lap, and her son, John Parke Custis is seated beside his mother on the floor, on the hemline of her dress. Washington is seated in a chair to the left of Martha and her brood. An open window behind Martha casts a divine light onto her--she absolutely radiates--and it is difficult to see why Washington should not be drawn to her. Despite an open door to his left, his escape from a future life as husband and father, Washington looks on the preexisting family dotingly, prepared to welcome them and care for them as his own. Instead, perhaps the open door is representative of the honorable and honest life the Washingtons would go on to lead; that they would be accepted as they were and had nothing to hide. Engraved by John C. McRae and "entered according to act of Congress AD 1860, by John C. McRae, in the clerk's office of the district court of the southern district of New York." A tape repair has been administered to a 6.5" tear at the top of the print, scattered small separations to the outer border; else fine. A lovely intimate portrait of the Washingtons coming together.

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