Washington at Prayer by E.B. and E.C. Kellogg

Description:

This hand-colored print is a full-length portrait of General George Washington in military uniform. He is kneeling on one knee on a small, fringed rug on grass, inside his campaign tent. His hand rests on a Bible, which is on a small table beside him, along with a battlefield map, inkstand, and his hat. His folding camp stool is behind him. Next to him on the rug is a sword and a telescope. Perhaps he is praying for victory prior to an American Revolutionary War battle or as legend has it, he was praying for souls of men lost at Valley Forge. This print is typical of the commemoration or adoration prints of the first president, highlighting Washington’s faith and moral fortitude. The camp stool, tent, sword, and telescope depicted are all objects owned by the museum.

This print was produced by Amos Doolittle; E.B. Kellogg and E.C. Kellogg; and Kelloggs & Thayer. An earlier version of this print was produced by Kelloggs and Thayer 1846-1847. Amos Doolittle (1754-1832) was an American engraver who was trained as a jeweler and silversmith. He lived in Connecticut and was especially well known for his four engravings of the battles of Lexington and Concord. He also engraved Biblical scenes, bookplates and portraits. Edmund Burke Kellogg (1809-1872) and Elijah Chapman Kellogg (1811-1881) were brothers of the founder of the Kellogg lithography firm, Daniel Wright Kellogg (1807-1874). After D.W. Kellogg moved west, his two brothers took over the family lithography firm in 1840 and changed the name to E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. The younger two of the four Kellogg brothers, they were responsible for the continued success of the family firm. These two brothers were also involved in the eventual partnerships between the company and Horace Thayer in 1845 or 1846, John Chenevard Comstock (1818-1862) in 1848 and William Henry Bulkeley (1840-1902) in 1867.