A Federalist Family

Who is in the Background?

Did you notice the man in the background? While the images of the Washington Family are clear, the identity of the man is less prominent. His presence exists to illustrate the affluence and wealth of the Washington family only described broadly by the artist. As the identity of this man may remain difficult to identify, the contrast between the family and his use in the portrait illustrates the inequity in society at the time.

Here, the National Park Service strives to raise up the stories of those that were once relegated to the background of society and, at times, lost to history. This painting demonstrates this fact. The painter, Edward Savage, never recorded the name of the enslaved individuals. While the histories of many of the enslaved people were often only valued for their proximity to figures like George Washington, their personal stories provide great value to the landscape of American history but often leave us with more questions than answers.

The National Park Service is constantly learning and discovering more. Historically this image has been interpreted to be one of two people: William Lee or Christopher Sheels.