Keeping it Real with George Washington at Princeton Paintings
and the Easton Flag
By Sharon Gothard
Charles Willson Peale (1741 – 1827) is best remembered for his portrait paintings of leading figures of the American Revolution, including George Washington.
Charles Peale Polk (1767 – 1822) was an American portrait painter and the nephew of artist Charles Wilson Peale.1
It was not unusual for an artist to copy a painting of another artist. This was done often. Even an artist would make “copies” of their own paintings, putting both small and large changes in it. Charles Peale was commissioned to do many copies of his portraits of George Washington.
“Polk likely found inspiration for George Washington at Princeton in Peale's well known 1779 painting of the subject. This painting celebrates Washington's victory at Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777, an early win that helped morale and renewed confidence in the Revolutionary War effort.”
“These differences in approach to the theme reflect the two artists' very different relationships to the historic battle. Charles Willson Peale commanded a company of Philadelphia militia during the war, and served under George Washington at Princeton. His paintings are first-hand recollections painted while his memories were still fresh and the war ongoing.”
“Charles Peale Polk was just ten years old during the Battle of Princeton. By the 1790s, when he painted the subject, it had entered the realm of history painting. His canvas possesses a gravity and monumentality befitting a retrospective image of the landmark event.”2
This brings us to the three paintings and the Easton Flag.3,4,5
Trying to date the Easton Flag has been hard and frustrating. Mr. William J. Heller, a true patriot and historian had an American Flag factory in Easton in the early 1900’s. He staunchly believed the flag was from the Revolutionary War, yet he never could produce any solid proof. He wrote a two-page pamphlet titled Easton’s Flag of the Revolution explaining why he felt the flag was from this era. 6
Polk did write a letter to George Washington on August 6, 1790, asking him, “His object is if Possible to Obtain the Honorable “priveledge” of One Short Setting from the President to enable him to finish a portrait of your Excellency (in head size) “Prapaired” with that design.”7 Polk mentions that he had already “executed” over 50 portraits of Washington, but was not pleased with the likenesses. It is thought that George Washington never responded to Polk and did not have a sitting.
The portraits of George Washington at Princeton, painted by Charles Peale Polk, have a militia in the back ground. Along with the men, a flag is flying. It is the same design as the Easton Flag. We know that Northampton County, PA men were at the battle of Princeton. It is because of these flags; I believe the Easton Flag is from the Revolutionary era.
During the Revolution, Peale served as an officer in the Trenton and Princeton campaigns and in the defense of Philadelphia. Perhaps he mentioned to his nephew, Polk, the descriptive events at the Battle of Princeton, including the Easton Flag. Otherwise, at this point, we do not know why Polk painted these flags. As far as we are aware, there was no other flag that looked like the Easton Flag.
I had reached out to the Princeton Historical Society and spoke to Paul Davis, Collections and Research Assistant, asking him if they had any information on this specific painting with the flag. This email was between Paul and Roger Williams:
Q. Is it possible the Easton Flag was at the Battle of Princeton? I realize the textile conservator says it’s unlikely, but given that it’s a very unusual design for a flag (my opinion), where did Charles Peale Polk get the idea for this flag? And why would he include it in his painting?
RSW: Sure it is possible...We know that a few of the participating regiments that were engaged DID have regimental banners, but we do not have any evidence that those banners were present at the battle either. We have to remember that in 1777 regimental flags for the American troops just were not used in the fashion that banners were used by their European counterparts. It was not until the 19th century that American regiments regularly carry flags into battle. That is not to say that regiments never carried banners. Some regiments did have junior infantry officers called, ensigns (cavalry had a similar rank of coronet). But even then...depending on the circumstance, the flag officers did not always carry banners; especially in the early phases of the war...most soldiers and junior officers, regardless of rank, were carrying weapons.
Although I would like to think the Easton Flag was the same “Standard” that was flying when the Declaration of Independence was read in Easton Square on July 8, 1776, I personally do not believe that to be true. Again, I do believe the Easton Flag IS from the Revolutionary War era for many reasons. One, is the Polk portraits. Two, the design of the flag with 13 eight pointed stars and the stripes. Three, I do not think it would be reasonable to think the ladies of Easton in 1814, made a two-sided flag in a few days, when they were busy making uniforms and knapsacks and some soldiers did not even get a uniform. Four, when Congress passed the design of the flag on June 14, 1777, the description sounds like the Easton Flag.8 Of course, saying and thinking all of this is just that, saying and thinking. There is no proof of when this flag was made or who made it. The search goes on…..
1. Charles Peale Polk was the nephew of Charles Willson Peale and was taken in by the Peale family at or near the age of 10 after being orphaned.
2. mountvernon.org
3. see image 1
4. see image 2
5. see image 3
6. Marx History Room @ Easton Area Public Library H 929.9H477e
7. The Papers of George Washington (Digital Edition) University of Virginia
8. see image 4
1779 - George Washington at Princeton by Charles Willson Peale, owned by PA Academy of the Fine Arts
@1790 to 1793 signed #30 Image1
Image 1a
Circa 1790 Image 2
Image 2a
1790 painted by Polk – Owned by Lafayette College Image 3
Image 3a
Dunlap and Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser September 2, 1777 image 4
