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MS 0116-01-01-001
1851 April 5
Letter from Rembrandt Peale, Philadelphia to Mr. Peter Roller, dated April 5th, 1851. It tells Roller that he received his letter and goes on the describe a portrait of Gen. George Washington in his Masonic regalia he did in 1803 while in London. He goes on to describe physical characteristics of the canvas that would help identify it as his. It also says a rough drawing was enclosed, this drawing did not accompany the letter. The physical characteristics noted are those of the painting the letter was found with, some of which can only be confirmed by photographs as they had been "lost" over the paintings lifetime. This letter, and the painting, are believed to be forgeries by Ferdinand Danton, Jr. Includes a transcript and some research on the information between the letter and the portrait.
[item identification], Rembrandt Peale letter, forgery, MS 0116, Archives and Special Collections, Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland.
Portrait was given to the College in 1944. It was purportedly found in a Baltimore attic in 1933.