Savage, Edward "The Washington Family" - "George Washington Parke Custis, Gen: Geo. Washington, Eleanor Parke Custis, Martha Washington, and William Lee"

Edward Savage.  "The Washington Family" -  "George Washington Parke Custis, Gen: Geo. Washington, Eleanor Parke Custis, Martha Washington, and William Lee."  

Philadelphia, circa. 1850. Mezzotint by John Sartain. 16 1/2 x 23 1/2 (image) with approx. 1 1/2" margin all around; 3 inch repaired tear at lower right corner, minor chips in margins. Lacking title. Strong image. Hand colored. 

The Edward Savage (1761-1817) painting of George Washington and his family was a classic as soon as it was created, and the artist commissioned an engraving which appeared as early as 1798. This print by John Sartain was published in the mid 1850s when patriotic concern over the dissolution of the United States was a major concern for patriotic thinkers. This is the kind of exquisite mezzotint that would have graced parlors and boardrooms in America. All the persona of Washington's family are here, including his favorite manservant William Lee.