Washington Prevents a Military Dictatorship (cancelled plate from the portfolio "The Bicentennial Pageant of George Washington")

Art Historical Context

In 1932, as America celebrated the bicentennial of George Washington's birth, artist Albert Sterner contributed to the portfolio *The Bicentennial Pageant of Washington*, a series of prints honoring the nation's first president. This cancelled plate, titled *Washington Prevents a Military Dicthip*, captures a pivotal moment of democratic resolve. Sterner depicts Washington asserting civilian authority over the military, likely referencing the Newburgh Conspiracy of 1783, when officers plotted against Congress, only for Washington to quash the uprising with a famous letter and gesture, reinforc...