The ¾” enamel lapel pin features a heroic image of George Washington inspired by the circa 1823 portrait by Rembrandt Peale.  That painting, known as the “Porthole Portrait”, was completed 24 years after Washington’s death.  The artist based more than 70 versions of this portrait on a life study which he had done of Washington in 1795 when the artist was 17 and George Washington was 63.  The young, unproven artist was able to arrange the sitting with Washington since his father was Charles Wilson Peale, a very prominent American artist and a friend of the revolution.