Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2024.FIC.012 |
Object Name |
Plate, Commemorative |
Title |
Reception to Washington Commerative Square Plate |
Description |
A white square plate features a black-and-white image of N.C. Wyeth's famous painting "Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on His Way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States." The image is surrounded by a gold circle, which is interrupted by three oval indentations on each of the four corners of the plate. The depiction shows Washington and his men riding through an arch, greeted by little girls spreading flowers. The arch is covered in foliage, with a sunflower at the top. Two banners adorn the top of the arch: one reads "DEC 26, 1776. Jan 2, 1777," and the other says, "THE DEFENDER OF THE MOTHERS WILL ALSO PROTECT THE DAUGHTERS." Washington and his men are dressed in jackets and hats, while the girls wear dresses and bonnets. Washington is waving his hat in his left hand. At the bottom of the image, the inscription "Triumphal Arch" appears. The front of the plate is slightly caved in, with the back elevated and separated by a raised rim. On the base of the plate, a black inscription reads: "Reception given by the City of Trenton to General Washington on April 21, 1789, while he was en route to New York for his inauguration as President of the United States. Mural of this scene by N.C. Wyeth is located inside the First Trenton National Bank." Below the inscription is a logo for American Decorators Inc., featuring the words "Created by" above an easel-shaped symbol with "American Decorators Inc. Trenton 10, New Jersey" inside it. "Trenton 10, New Jersey" is printed in a darker shade of black. According to Dan Aubrey and the Trenton Historical Society, the First Mechanics National Bank of Trenton commissioned N.C. Wyeth to create "Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton On His Way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States" in 1927 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Trenton's founding. Wyeth, a Pennsylvania-based artist, visited numerous historical sites in Trenton, including the Trenton Free Public Library, the banks of the Assunpink, and the Old Barracks, to research for the painting. He ultimately decided to depict Washington's journey from Mount Vernon, Virginia to his inauguration as the first President of the United States in New York City. The two dates at the top of the painting correspond to Washington's victories in the First and Second Battles of Trenton. The painting was completed in 1930 and hung in the bank. Since then, the building housing Wyeth's work has changed hands, eventually being purchased by Wells Fargo. In 2013, after Wells Fargo moved to a new location, they loaned the painting to Thomas Edison State University, and in 2019, they donated it to the university. With an evaluation of over $4 million, it remains the largest donation ever made to the university. Citations: Aubrey, D. (2022, July 6). Wyeth’s "Reception to Washington" to be Sold. Community News. https://www.communitynews.org/princetoninfo/commentary/between_the_lines/wyeths-reception-to-washington-to-be-sold/article_c37b68ea-f19c-11ec-8ff8-d79de7841454.html Brandywine Museum of Art. N.C. Wyeth Biography. (n.d.). https://www.brandywine.org/museum/nc-wyeth-biography Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on his way to New York to assume the duties of the presidency of the United States by N.C. wyeth (1930). Trenton Historical Society. (n.d.-a). https://trentonhistory.org/reception-to-washington-on-april-21-1789-at-trenton-on-his-way-to-new-york-to-assume-the-duties-of-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by-n-c-wyeth-1930/ |
Date |
Mid 20th Century (Likely) |
Material |
Ceramic |
Artist |
American Decorators Inc. |
Height (in) |
7.500 |
Length (in) |
7.500 |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Wear throughout Front: There is wear all along the right edge. Back: There is wear all along the inner rim. There are abrasions all along the edges. And finally, there is a black accretion on the bottom near the middle. |
Inscription Type |
Inscription |
Inscription Location |
Front, Top to Bottom, Middle |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"DEC 26, 1776" Line 1 "JAN 2, 1777" Line 2 "THE DEFENDER OF THE MOTHERS WILL ALSO PROTECT THE DAUGHTERS" Line 3 "Triumphal Arch" Line 4 Inscription Stamped Back, Center, Middle "Recepetion given by the City of Trenton to General" Line 1 "Washington on April 21, 1789 while he was enroute" Line 2 "to New York for inaugration as President of the" Line 3 "United States." Line 4 "Mural of this scene by N.C. Wyeth is located in-" Line 5 "side the First Trenton National Bank." Line 6 "Created by" Line 7 "American Decorators Inc." Line 8 "Trenton 10, New Jersey" Line 9 |
People |
George Washington Newell Convers Wyeth |
Classification |
Domestic Life/Household Goods Business & Commerce Art |
Subjects |
Ceramic industry Politics & government Politicians Political representation Political participation Voting Government officials Government employees Military personnel Military parades & ceremonies Art Art reproductions Arches |
Search Terms |
George Washington Newell Convers Wyeth N.C. Wyeth Art Mural Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on his way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States Commemorative Plate Commemorative Plate Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on his way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States White Black First Trenton National Bank Banking Military President Trenton Mount Vernon New York City 1927 1930 1929 1776 1777 December January 26 2 Sunflower Horses Girls Hat Wave The Defender of The Mothers Will Also Protect The Children Ceramic American Decorators Inc. New Jersey 1789 April 21 10 Triumphal Arch |
Provenance |
Found in collection |