Floor plan

Style galleriesAmerican colonial and Federal art

American colonial and Federal art

Daniel Crommelin Verplanck, by John Singleton Copley, 1771
George Washington, by Charles Willson Peale, ca. 1779–81
The image shows a scene from a slightly elevated point of view. The horizon is low, highlighting the vast sky above. On the right, there are buildings surrounded by trees. In the center, there is a tall monument with a small structure at its base, slightly to the left. To the right of the monument, a person is standing. The drawing features detailed linework and delicate shading for the sky. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of gray. Rocks and grass in the foreground lead towards the monument and buildings in the distance.
Three pale-skinned, blue-eyed children wearing green suits stand in a row facing us in this horizontal portrait painting. They all have round faces and full, pink cheeks. The tallest child is to the right, and he has shoulder-length cinnamon-brown hair. The other two come up to his shoulder and have blond hair. The tallest puts one arm on the far shoulder of the middle child, and the two smaller children hold hands. Each wears a pine-green, one-piece outfit with pewter-gray buttons, a wide, ivory-white collar lined with ruffles, and black, shin-high boots. The boy on our left holds a branch of dark red cherries. The middle child holds a pink rose, and the tallest a basket filled with pink roses. A black dog holding a gray and mauve-pink bird in its mouth stands in profile facing our left in the lower right corner of the canvas. The room around them has a tan-colored floor and gray walls. The room opens onto an alcove to our right with a rectangular window. A slender tree is along the left edge of the opening and a few pale, pink-tinged gray mountains line the bottom edge. Clear blue sky fills the rest of the window.
This image depicts a man from the waist up. He is seated, slightly turned to his right, while facing the viewer. The man has a composed expression, prominent cheekbones, and a slightly pointed nose. His dark brown hair is styled in a classic early 19th-century manner, with curls around the sides and forehead. He is dressed in a dark blue coat with gold buttons, a yellow waistcoat, a high-collared white shirt, and a decorative pin. In his right hand, he holds a piece of folded paper with writing on it. The background is an indistinct swirl of darker colors.
This painting is a portrait of a man from the waist up. He is facing us, with pale skin, thin lips, rosy cheeks, light green eyes, and gray hair styled into curls around his ears. He has a neutral expression. The man is wearing a dark coat with gold buttons on the front, with a pale-yellow shirt underneath and a white cravat around his neck. The background is a dark and indistinct brown color.

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

Portraits and pictures from early America, before and after independence.

First room, north wall

  1. Daniel Crommelin Verplanck, by John Singleton Copley, 1771
    Daniel Crommelin VerplanckJohn Singleton Copley, 1771Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. George Washington, by Charles Willson Peale, ca. 1779–81
    George WashingtonCharles Willson Peale, ca. 1779–81Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. The image shows a scene from a slightly elevated point of view. The horizon is low, highlighting the vast sky above. On the right, there are buildings surrounded by trees. In the center, there is a tall monument with a small structure at its base, slightly to the left. To the right of the monument, a person is standing. The drawing features detailed linework and delicate shading for the sky. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of gray. Rocks and grass in the foreground lead towards the monument and buildings in the distance.
    Groton MonumentJ.R. Butts, c. 1830-1840Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

First room, south wall

  1. Three pale-skinned, blue-eyed children wearing green suits stand in a row facing us in this horizontal portrait painting. They all have round faces and full, pink cheeks. The tallest child is to the right, and he has shoulder-length cinnamon-brown hair. The other two come up to his shoulder and have blond hair. The tallest puts one arm on the far shoulder of the middle child, and the two smaller children hold hands. Each wears a pine-green, one-piece outfit with pewter-gray buttons, a wide, ivory-white collar lined with ruffles, and black, shin-high boots. The boy on our left holds a branch of dark red cherries. The middle child holds a pink rose, and the tallest a basket filled with pink roses. A black dog holding a gray and mauve-pink bird in its mouth stands in profile facing our left in the lower right corner of the canvas. The room around them has a tan-colored floor and gray walls. The room opens onto an alcove to our right with a rectangular window. A slender tree is along the left edge of the opening and a few pale, pink-tinged gray mountains line the bottom edge. Clear blue sky fills the rest of the window.
    The Westwood ChildrenJoshua Johnson, c. 1807Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. This image depicts a man from the waist up. He is seated, slightly turned to his right, while facing the viewer. The man has a composed expression, prominent cheekbones, and a slightly pointed nose. His dark brown hair is styled in a classic early 19th-century manner, with curls around the sides and forehead. He is dressed in a dark blue coat with gold buttons, a yellow waistcoat, a high-collared white shirt, and a decorative pin. In his right hand, he holds a piece of folded paper with writing on it. The background is an indistinct swirl of darker colors.
    Robert G. L. De PeysterSamuel Lovett Waldo, 1828Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. This painting is a portrait of a man from the waist up. He is facing us, with pale skin, thin lips, rosy cheeks, light green eyes, and gray hair styled into curls around his ears. He has a neutral expression. The man is wearing a dark coat with gold buttons on the front, with a pale-yellow shirt underneath and a white cravat around his neck. The background is a dark and indistinct brown color.
    Abraham KintzingThomas Sully, 1815Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Second room, south wall

  1. Sketch for The Copley Family, by John Singleton Copley, 1776
    Sketch for The Copley FamilyJohn Singleton Copley, 1776Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. James Alexander Ross Cuthbert, by Edward Greene Malbone, 1799
    James Alexander Ross CuthbertEdward Greene Malbone, 1799Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. Artist: Charles Willson Peale, Sitter: Richard Henry Lee, Current owner: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
    Richard Henry LeeCharles Willson Peale, c. 1795-1805Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
  4. The image shows the upper half of a seated woman facing forward. She has her hands clasped together in front of her. The woman appears calm with visible signs of age, including a few wrinkles on her face. She wears a white bonnet with a frilled edge tied under her chin, a dark shawl over a white high-collared blouse, and sits on a red chair with a gold trim. A red book and a handkerchief are on the surface next to her. The background transitions from deep red to brown tones.
    Ann Old Coleman (Mrs. Robert Coleman)Jacob Eichholtz, c. 1820Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Second room, north wall

  1. Mrs. John Winthrop, by John Singleton Copley, 1773
    Mrs. John WinthropJohn Singleton Copley, 1773Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Boy in Blue Coat, c. 1730
    Boy in Blue CoatUnrecorded American maker, c. 1730Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. Artist: Thomas Sully, Sitter: John Sergeant, Current owner: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
    John SergeantThomas Sully, 1811Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Third room, north wall

  1. The image shows an upper-body portrait of a man seated in a formal position. The man is depicted with a slight turn of his head, directly facing the viewer with a composed expression. He has short gray hair that is neatly styled. His facial features include a high forehead and firm jawline. He is dressed in a dark formal jacket with a high-collared white shirt visible at the neckline. His left hand rests on the arm of the chair, which is ornately carved with a scroll design. A fabric with an intricate pattern is draped over the back of the chair. There is no visible jewelry. In the background, there is a muted backdrop with a warm hue. On the left side of the image, a flowing drapery in a rich reddish tone adds depth to the setting.
    Charles Carnan RidgelyThomas Sully, 1820Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Mary Walton Morris, by John Wollaston, 1749/1752
    Mary Walton MorrisJohn Wollaston, 1749/1752Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image displays a painted portrait of an individual, showing the upper half of the body prominently. The person is positioned facing slightly toward the viewer's left with their gaze directed forward. They have defined facial features with a smooth complexion and medium-length, curly brown hair that frames their face. The attire consists of an elegant coat with distinct buttons and a high-collared shirt underneath. There is a subtle shine and texture to the clothing. There are no visible jewelry pieces, and the person is not holding any objects. The background is a dark, neutral color, contrasting with the lighter tones of the person's skin and clothing.
    A Gentleman of the Morris FamilyJohn Wollaston, 1749/1752Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington