Artwork

These works of art set a cosmopolitan tone and invited close inspection and contemplation by guests.

These prints were part of a collection of over 100 that Washington had amassed in Philadelphia. At the time, building a collection of prints, skilled reproductions of original art, was a serious pursuit. Contemporary theorists linked the ability to choose and enjoy artwork to the development of one’s moral virtue. Displaying art in good taste testified both to one’s own character and a noble desire to elevate the visiting viewer.

The four fine art prints in the Yellow Room represent those installed by the Washingtons in 1797. Washington’s detailed list of “Prints purchased,” together with the probate inventories, enabled curators to identify the correct prints in the room. High-quality reproductions of each of the four landscapes, reproduced from originals, are displayed in the room.