Robert Field’s Portrait Miniature of George Washington found in Freeman's April 28 American Furniture & Decorative Arts Sale

A portrait miniature of George Washington in Presidential attire, by Robert Field (1769-1819) after Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), mounted in a gilt-locket frame, circa 1800.

Born in London and trained at the Royal Academy, Robert Field arrived in the United States in 1794, with aspirations of depicting the new nation's cultural and political elite. Traveling first to Baltimore, and then to the temporary capital of Philadelphia, Field joined an active group of native and foreign-born artists—prominent among them, Charles Willson Peale, James Peale, and Gilbert Stuart.  George Washington was the most coveted subject, and Stuart, creator of highly desirable portraits of Washington, declared Field as the era's greatest portrait miniaturist. This advocacy supported Field's ability to secure numerous commissions of miniature versions of Gilbert Stuart's portraits of the First President, in military uniform and presidential attire.

View the American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts Auction, April 28, Philadelphia.