The Washington Family

The Washington Family by Edward Savage is a life-sized group portrait of U.S. President George Washington, First Lady Martha Washington, two of her grandchildren, and a slave. Based on life studies made early in Washington's presidency, Savage began the work in New York City, 1789–90, and completed it several years later in Philadelphia, 1795–96. The enormous oil painting (7 ft. x 9 ft. 4 in. / 213 cm. x 284 cm.) is now at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, District of Colombia.

The image was a famous one in the 19th century. Prints were mass-produced by Savage beginning in 1798, and by John Sartain in 1840.

The setting for the painting is idealized, with the Potomac River flowing in the background. Shown are grandson George Washington Parke Custis, George Washington, granddaughter Eleanor Parke Custis, Martha Washington, and an enslaved servant (probably Christopher Sheels).

With a plan of the future city of Washington in front of her, Martha Washington is, according to Savage's catalogue, "pointing with her fan to the grand avenue" (now the National Mall). Holding a compass, young George's right hand rests near the top of a globe that lacks geographical markings.

An oil painting by Peter Waddell entitled A Vision Unfolds debuted in 2005 within an exhibition on Freemasonry that the Octagon House's museum in Washington, D.C., was hosting. The painting was again displayed in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, first in the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska and later in the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts and in the Scottish Rite Center of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. Containing elements present in The Washington Family, Waddell's history painting depicts a meeting that is taking place within an elaborate surveying tent. In the imaginary scene, African American astronomer Benjamin Banneker presents a map of the Territory of Columbia (see: History of Washington, D.C.#Founding) to President Washington and surveyor Andrew Ellicott.