Art Rescued From The White House
The War of 1812 was fought between the Americans and the British. It lasted from 1812 to 1815. In 1814, America waslosing the war. At the time, late August, President James Madison was not in Washington D.C. He had left to meet with his generals on the battlefield. His wife, Dolley, stayed in the White House and waited for him to return, even as the British were about to enter the city. On Aug. 22, Dolley decided to abandon the White House. She left all of her personal belongings and instead saved a full-length portrait of President George Washington. The next day, the British forces captured, looted and burned down the White House. Thanks to the first lady, the portrait was taken to New York, and saved from the British. It still hangs in the White House. The White House is full of culturally and historically important works of art.
• The painting saved by the First Lady was called “George Washington” by Gilbert Stuart.
• It is the most famous painting in the White House.
• It is a full-length portrait of George Washington.
• It was painted in 1797.
• It is the only object that has been in the White House since 1800.
• The frame of the portrait was screwed into the wall, so the first lady had the frame broken and she saved the canvas.
• The painting is 95 x 60 inches.
Although “George Washington” is the most famous and oldest painting in the White House, it is not the only important piece of artwork. The White House serves in some ways as a museum. There are many works from talented American artists. For example, there is “Bear Lake, New Mexico” by Georgia O’Keefe. She was the first American woman whose work was displayed in the public rooms in the White House. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 for her lifetime of artistic achievements.
