Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 16 works by Edward Savage in our catalogue
In short
George Washington (1793) is the Edward Savage painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. After it, the eye goes to George Washington (1796) and George Washington and Family (1798). Among the 16 works of Edward Savage in our catalog, these 16 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
The room falls into a heavy, quiet stillness as we encounter the figure of George Washington. He sits in a three-quarter length pose, his gaze directed toward the right side of the frame with a sense of quiet strength. The light enters from the upper left, carving out the contours of his face and casting gentle shadows that lend depth to his features. A powdered wig, bright and stark against…
The portrait of George Washington by Edward William J. Savage is an oil on canvas work dated 1796. The subject is depicted in a bust-length composition, positioned slightly off-center and looking toward the right of the frame. The color palette consists of deep blacks, creamy whites, and warm flesh tones against a dark background that transitions from deep umber to a soft, warm ochre glow behind the head. The subject…
In the quiet intimacy of an engraving that transcends its medium, we find ourselves invited into a private moment of the American presidency. George Washington and Family, a masterful work based upon the vision of Edward Savage, serves as more than just a historical record; it is a window into the domestic soul of a founding era. The scene unfolds around a dining table, where the weight of leadership meets…
The Washington Family is a life-sized group portrait by the American artist Edward Savage. Created between 1789 and 1796, the oil on canvas work depicts George Washington and Martha Washington alongside two of their grandchildren, George Washington Parke Custis and Eleanor Parke Custis. A Black servant is also positioned within the group, standing in the background of the scene.
A man sits anchored in a room of quiet shadows. He is Ezekiel Hersey, a physician whose presence is defined by the heavy folds of a patterned robe and the soft, pink cap upon his head. The light enters from the upper left, a steady, unseen source that carves his features out of the dimness. He does not look at us; his gaze is fixed on a point beyond the…
The Savage Family is a portrait by Edward Savage. Created about 1779, the work reflects the hand of an artist who transitioned from the technical precision of a goldsmith and engraver to the formal demands of American portraiture. Savage, born in Princeton, Massachusetts, in 1761, established a presence in the early American art scene through his ability to capture individual likenesses with clarity.
In this 1794 portrait, we encounter Mary Stiles Holmes, presented in a formal oval composition that focuses our attention entirely on her character. She is captured in a bust-length view, her body turned slightly to the side while her gaze meets the viewer with a sense of serene composure. The palette is restrained, relying on muted, earthy tones—ochre, olive green, and soft browns—that allow the pale luminosity of her skin…
In this bust-length portrait, we encounter Anthony Wayne, a man whose presence is defined by the quiet gravity of his station. He is positioned slightly off-center, his gaze directed toward the right, yet his eyes remain fixed upon the viewer with a steady, unwavering clarity. The composition is intimate, focusing on the textures of his Continental Army officer's uniform. Deep navy blue fabric meets the sharp, bright yellow of his…
In this 1790 oil portrait, we encounter Ebenezer Stevens, a man whose presence is defined by a quiet, resolute authority. The composition follows the traditions of Neoclassical portraiture, positioning the subject in a three-quarter view from the waist up. There is a deliberate weight to his posture, a stillness that suggests a life shaped by responsibility. The lighting is handled with a careful chiaroscuro effect, casting one side of his…
In this half-length portrait, we encounter George Washington not as a distant myth, but as a man of presence and quiet gravity. The composition places him slightly off-center, his gaze directed toward the right of the frame, creating a sense of thoughtful contemplation. There is a certain stillness here, a dignity that arises from the Neoclassical restraint of the era. The lighting is deliberate, entering from the upper left to…
Archibald Gracie Jr. (1795–1865)1810 · New York Historical Society
12
The Washington Family1798
13
Congress Voting Independence1795
14
William Penn's Treaty with the Indians1800 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
15
Samuel AdamsDallas Museum of Art
16
Congress Voting Independence1906 · National Portrait Gallery
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Edward Savage | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 New York Historical Society |
New York City | 3 | Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), Ebenezer Stevens (1751–1823), Archibald Gracie Jr. (1795–1865) |
 National Gallery of Art |
Washington | 2 | George Washington, The Washington Family |
 National Portrait Gallery |
London | 2 | George Washington and Family, Congress Voting Independence |
 Harvard Art Museums |
Cambridge | 2 | Ezekiel Hersey (1709-1770), George Washington (1732-1799) |
 Worcester Art Museum |
Worcester | 2 | The Savage Family, Portrait of Mary Stiles Holmes (Mrs. Abiel Holmes), 1794 |
 Art Institute of Chicago |
Chicago | 1 | George Washington |
 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts |
Philadelphia | 1 | William Penn's Treaty with the Indians |
 Dallas Museum of Art |
Dallas | 1 | Samuel Adams |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
The Savage Family is a portrait by Edward Savage. Created about 1779, the work reflects the hand of an artist who transitioned from the technical precision of a goldsmith and engraver to the formal demands of American portraiture. Savage, born in Princeton, Massachusetts, in 1761, established a presence in the early American art scene through his ability to capture individual likenesses with clarity.
A man sits anchored in a room of quiet shadows. He is Ezekiel Hersey, a physician whose presence is defined by the heavy folds of a patterned robe and the soft, pink cap upon his head. The light enters from the upper left, a steady, unseen source that carves his features out of the dimness. He does not look at us; his gaze is fixed on a point beyond the…
The room falls into a heavy, quiet stillness as we encounter the figure of George Washington. He sits in a three-quarter length pose, his gaze directed toward the right side of the frame with a sense of quiet strength. The light enters from the upper left, carving out the contours of his face and casting gentle shadows that lend depth to his features. A powdered wig, bright and stark against…
This portrait miniature presents a young man from the chest up, rendered in an oval format. The subject is positioned in a three-quarter view, facing toward the viewer's right. He possesses dark, shoulder-length hair with bangs that cover his forehead. His attire consists of a blue jacket with high lapels and visible white buttons, worn over a white ruffled cravat. The color palette is defined by the deep blue of…
George Washington (1793), Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. George Washington (1796) and George Washington and Family (1798) come next.
32 years old: George Washington dates from 1793, and Edward Savage was born in 1761.
George Washington, George Washington, George Washington and Family, The Washington Family, Ezekiel Hersey (1709-1770), The Savage Family, Portrait of Mary Stiles Holmes (Mrs. Abiel Holmes), 1794, Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), Ebenezer Stevens (1751–1823) and George Washington (1732-1799). The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 16 works by Edward Savage, dated from 1779 to 1810.
Mostly in New York Historical Society (New York City), National Gallery of Art (Washington) and National Portrait Gallery (London). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1790s: 10 of the 16 works on this page were made then, George Washington among them.
On this page, the earliest is The Savage Family (1779) and the latest Archibald Gracie Jr. (1795–1865) (1810).
Man (9), Dark background (5) and Table (4), across the 16 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 10 of the 16 works on this page.
Neoclassicism, judging by the originals on this page.
Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), Ebenezer Stevens (1751–1823) and Archibald Gracie Jr. (1795–1865): the New York Historical Society, New York City holds 3 of the works on this page.
