1792, Stipple Engraving on wove paper, published by George Washington, Esq.R President of the United States of America,Painted and Engraved by Edward Savage (1761-1817) in 1792, Framed, Fine.
This is Edward Savage's engraved portrait of George Washington, titled "George Washington, Esq'r., President of the United States of America," published February 7, 1792, in London. Savage both painted the original portrait and engraved this print of it himself (per the inscription "Painted & Engraved by E. Savage"), publishing it from his address at No. 29 Charles Street, Middlesex Hospital, London. This is a well-documented and historically important piece reflecting both the print's rarity as Savage's First Published Washington Portrait and the cachet of a named, distinguished provenance being from the Ambassador Middendorf collection.

The Sheet measures 7.75” x 5.25” (196 x 134 mm) (by sight) and is framed fully to 9.25” x 6.75” (232 x 173 mm), Edward Savage’s handsome engraving with margins, the publication line trimmed nearly away, in generally good condition apart from two tiny abrasions in the vest and jowls, a slight scratch at left just touching the wig. The lower right corner discolored and soiled and a few creases. A small stain and a tiny loss in the right margin edge, overall fine and attractive, apparently easily conserved for display. Shown under special UV protective TRU VUE Plexiglas. Sotheby’s 2022 auction estimate was $8,000 to $10,000. A single copy is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with an inscription matching this example word-for-word. See: Hart 214a (Charles Henry Hart, Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington, Grolier Club, 1904);

Stauffer/Fielding/Gage 2753 (American Engravers upon Copper and Steel, 1907) Stauffer 2753; Wick 31.

Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf; Sotheby’s, New York January 24, 2022 Lot 1560.
Edward Savage (1761-1817), a self-taught Massachusetts painter and engraver, was commissioned by Harvard University's president, Joseph Willard, to paint George Washington's portrait after Washington visited Harvard's "Philosophy Chamber" in October 1789 and admired the room. Washington sat for Savage in New York on December 21, 1789, "at the request of the President and Governors" of Harvard.

The finished Oil Portrait was gifted by Edward Savage to Harvard College in 1791 and remains today in the Harvard University Portrait Collection. In 1791, Savage traveled to London specifically to Engrave and Publish Print a version of the Oil Portrait this rare print is the direct result, and it proved highly lucrative for Savage.