William Winstanley

William Winstanley was an English born landscape artist who came to the United States in the early 1790s, eventually settling in Philadelphia, the seat of the new republic. He has been recognized as one of the first landscape painters in what is now the United States. While in Philadelphia, Winstanley gained a very prominent patron, the nation’s first president George Washington. This connection to Washington heightens his importance as a pioneer in landscape portraits.

Early Life

William Winstanley was born in England and was he son of a painter and engraver. His uncle, William Winstanley (1628-1698) was a highly regarded author.

Winstanley and George Washington

During his presidency, Washington purchased four Winstanley paintings. The first two, views of the Hudson River, were displayed in the Green Drawing Room of the presidential mansion in Philadelphia. Washington purchased two additional paintings from Winstanley in 1794. Washington brought the Winstanley landscapes back to Mount Vernon following his presidency and displayed them in his extraordinary New Room that served, among other purposes, as a well-appointed art gallery to greet important visitors.

In so doing, Washington established the one of the earliest collection of American landscape paintings. Three of those original works are still on display at Mount Vernon in the New Room, the fourth has never been located. Those works include: View of the North [Hudson] River (Morning), ca. 1793; View of the North [Hudson] River (Evening), ca. 1793; Genesee Falls (Falls of the Genesee) ca. 1794.¹

In a letter of introduction to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Washington wrote that Winstanley was a “celebrated Landskip (sic) Painter.”²

Later Career

Others celebrated his work. Alexander Hamilton, on viewing the two Hudson River paintings at the President’s house, said they were of “great intrinsic merit.”³ Hamilton would go on to write introduction letters for Winstanley to other politicians such as Robert Morris and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

Winstanley was in New York City by 1795. Based on advertisements that he placed, he branched out into portraiture and history painting. He displayed his works in a New York gallery for several years. His most well-known subject for a live sitting was President John Adams.⁴ As the Capitol moved to Washington, D.C., so did William Winstanley. Little is known of the rest of his career except that he moved back to England sometime after 1800. The last known record of Winstanley was in an 1806 large group exhibition at the British Institution in London.

John H. Zimmerman George Washington's Mount Vernon, updated by Zoie Horecny, 21 May 2025

Notes:

1. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association purchased the Hudson River paintings in 1940 while Genesee Falls is on long term loan from the Smithsonian since 1998. The latter arrangement represented the Smithsonian’s first partnership with a presidential house.

2. “From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 September 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives.

3. “From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [10 April 1793],” Founders Online, National Archives.

4. The John Adams portrait is on public view at The Old House at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park, Quincy, Mass.

Bibliography:

American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. Scenic and Historic America. Vol. 1, Issue 1. American Scenic Preservation Society, 1917, 12.

Oliver, Andrew. The Adams Papers Series IV: Portraits of John and Abigail Adams. Cambridge. Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1967.