A rare portrait of George Washington has been sold by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for a staggering $2.8 million. The painting was auctioned alongside two other notable pieces of Americana, namely a pair of pistols owned by Alexander Hamilton and a shotgun owned by John Jay. The proceeds from the sale will be directed towards the museum’s acquisition fund, enabling them to bring in new artworks for visitors to enjoy.
The highlight of the auction was undoubtedly the 1795 portrait of George Washington, created by Gilbert Stuart, the esteemed portraitist renowned for capturing the image of the first President. The painting had a rich history, having been owned by the Philips, a prominent English family who were close allies of the Washingtons. Eventually, it came into the possession of Richard De Wolfe Brixey, a businessman and art collector, who bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art upon his demise in 1943.
Out of the fourteen known renditions of Washington made by Stuart, this particular portrait was one of the most significant. While one remains in the Met’s collection, the others are held by universities, museums, and private collectors. The sale of this exceptional artwork contributed to the success of Christie’s annual live Important Americana auction, which generated an impressive total of $9.3 million this year, more than doubling last year’s figure.
Deaccessioning artwork is a regular practice for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a focus on selling duplicates within their collection. According to Max Hollein, the Met director, the museum can expect to raise between $45,000 and $25 million annually through deaccessioned works. In 2022, the Met sold one of their two Pablo Picasso bronze casts for a remarkable $48 million, specifically to fund future acquisitions. Furthermore, more than 200 duplicate photographs and art prints were auctioned off the previous year to compensate for the revenue lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the George Washington portrait, the Met also sold a set of pocket pistols owned by Alexander Hamilton. These pistols, engraved with Hamilton’s initials and designed for civilian use, were purchased by the museum in 1950 from Hamilton’s great-great-grandson, Schuyler van Cortlandt Hamilton. They fetched an impressive $819,000 at auction. The pistols were one of only two surviving pairs known to have been owned by the Founding Father, with the other pair selling for $1.1 million in 2021. A third pair associated with Hamilton, famously used in his duel with Aaron Burr in 1804, is currently part of JP Morgan Chase’s collection.
Lastly, the Met offered a double-barreled shotgun owned by John Jay, another notable figure from America’s founding era. The gun, adorned with Jay’s engraved name on the butt plate, sold for $30,000. It was acquired by the museum in 1955, adding another historical artifact to their collection.
Interestingly, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, a nonprofit organization dedicated to U.S. history education, also participated in the Important Americana auction. They sold a Rembrandt Peale portrait of George Washington, which fetched an impressive $529,000. The proceeds from this sale will be utilized to support the organization’s acquisitions and direct care fund.
By parting with these significant pieces from their collection, both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Gilder Lehrman Institute are ensuring that their future acquisitions will enhance the cultural experience for visitors and historians alike. The success of this year’s auction demonstrates the continued interest and appreciation for American history and art, as well as the dedication of these institutions to preserving and expanding their collections for future generations to enjoy.
