Display of the United States of America
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
NPG.92.153
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1791 by engraver Amos Doolittle1754–1832), *Display of the United States America* is a poignant print celebrating the young nation's identity just two years into George Washington's presidency. Doolittle, a Connecticut artisan famous for his detailed engravings of Revolutionary War like the Battle of Lexington, captures here a symbolic array of American emblems and Washington's multifaceted legacy—from farmer and surveyor to general, Revolutionary War hero, and statesman. Elements such as the Congressional Gold Medal (awarded to Washington in 1776), epaulets denoting military rank, ...