Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington

Dorothy Moss, associate curator at the National Portrait Gallery, discusses Gilbert Stuart's iconic portrait of George Washington, known as the Lansdowne portrait. Painted in 1796, it depicts Washington as a citizen and is filled with symbols of the new Republic. The portrait was commissioned by William Bingham for William Petty and sent to London. Multiple copies were made, including one rescued by Dolly Madison during the War of 1812. The original is now a focal point at the National Portrait Gallery, thanks to a donation from the Donald W Reynolds Foundation.

Who is Dorothy Moss in relation to the National Portrait Gallery?

• A painter

• An associate curator

• A security guard

• A visitor

What is unique about the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington?

• It shows him as a military leader

• It was never completed

• It depicts him as a citizen

• It was painted after his death

Who commissioned the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington?

• Dolly Madison

• Gilbert Stuart

• William Bingham

• George Washington himself

What does the rainbow in the background of the portrait symbolize?

• A connection to the British monarchy

• Washington's love for nature

• The end of the war and hope for the future

• The beginning of a storm

Where is one of the copies of the Lansdowne portrait currently located?

• The British Museum

• The White House

• The Smithsonian

• The Louvre

During which war did Dolly Madison rescue the portrait from the White House?

• The War of 1812

• The Revolutionary War

• World War I

• The Civil War

What did Dolly Madison do to ensure the portrait's safety during the British invasion?

• She disguised it as a window

• She buried it in the garden

• She hid it in the basement

• She ordered the frame to be broken and the portrait rolled

Who made the donation of the Lansdowne portrait to the National Portrait Gallery possible?

• The American Art Association

• The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation

• The British Government

• The Smithsonian Institution

What is the primary focus of the National Portrait Gallery's America's Presidents Gallery?

• Portraits of all American presidents

• Photographs of historical events

• The Lansdowne portrait of George Washington

• Sculptures of American leaders

Why is the discussion of the Lansdowne portrait timely?

• It is being auctioned

• It is being restored

• It is the 200th anniversary of Dolly Madison's rescue

• It is being moved to a new location