The American Star (George Washington)
ca. 1803
Medium
Oil and gold leaf on paper
Dimensions
22 x 17 3/4 in. (55.9 x 45.1 cm)
Classification
Painting
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, 1962
Accession Number
62.256.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
Frederick Kemmelmeyer, a-based folk artist active in the 18th and early 19th centuries, craftedThe American Star (George)* around 1803. This patriotic portrait elevates George Washington, the revered first president who died in 1799, as a radiant "star" of the young republic. Surrounded by soaring eagles—enduring symbols of American freedom and strength—the composition bursts with national fervor, reflecting the era's zeal for heroic imagery in a post-Revolutionary United States. Kemmelmeyer's folk style, characterized by bold symbolism and vibrant colors, captures the democratic spirit witho...