George Washington
Form
- Supposed to paint Washington but decided to do a sculpture
- Took very detailed measurements of George Washington
- Neoclassicists in the American version are simple and less dramatic
- Compared to Doryphoros, this is strikingly similar
- Idealised, noble, casual
- Contrapposto
- Left in bare marble which goes back to idealisation and simplicity of statues
- Aimed to show the legendary leader
- Captured the ideal duality of the leader being a humble private citizen and the honorable public servant
- Commissioned by the Virginian council right before his resignation speech
- Wears his military uniform
- Left arm against a fascia
  * Given to Roman slaves to represent their freedom
  * 13 colonies represented with the rods, Washington draws his strength of them by leaning on them - Visually represents âout of many, oneâ
- Doesnât hold his sword in the sculpture, it hands on him
- Shows how he doesnât immediately result to war
- Plow rests behind him to show how he is a simple man representing a Roman story about a man who returns to the farm
- Has a walking stick showing that he loved to stroll
Context
- After American revolution they turned to art to develop the American identity
- European sculpture sought out due to lack of artistic talent in Americas
- Thomas Jefferson recommended
- Tasked with creating the new nations imagery
- Originally created a classical bust of Washington and he didnât like it so he insisted he would be shown in a more contemporary style
Learning Objective
18th c. American Neoclassical Sculpture