Imagining George Washington

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Imagining George Washington
The Boglewood Catalog of Images Published during his Life

Image Sources: "Alexander Campbell"

"ALEXANDER CAMPBELL" is the pseudonym of the artist or artists who created two fictitious yet extremely influential images of Washington which were published in London in 1775. Each engraving alleges that its image was "Drawn from the life by Alex. Campbell of Williamsburgh in Virginia," but

Washington, who was a regular visitor to Williamsburgh, wrote, 31 January 1776, "Mr Campbell, whom I never saw to my knowledge, has made a very formidable figure of the Commander-in-Chief, giving him a sufficient portion of terror in his countenance."

Campbell Type A

Unknown medium
and size ( 1775)

The two basic "Alexander Campbell" engravings were published by C. Campbell of London, whom one source identifies as a well-known London printer. Stylistically similar (and equally fictitious) engravings of other American revolutionary officers were published in the same period by London publishers Thomas Hart and John Morris, suggesting a set or series. Soon copies of the "Campbell" engravings, either authorized or pirated, were published across Europe.

Prints based on Campbell Type A
Boglewood 2801	Boglewood 2802	Boglewood 2803	Boglewood 2804
Boglewood 2805	Boglewood 2806	Boglewood 2807	Boglewood 2808
Boglewood 2809	Boglewood 2810	Boglewood 2811	Boglewood 2812
Boglewood 2813	Boglewood 2814	Boglewood 2815	Boglewood 2816
Boglewood 2817

Campbell Type B

Unknown medium
and size (1775)

The equestrian engraving followed the same trail of publication as the standing pose.

Prints based on Campbell Type B
Boglewood 2901	Boglewood 290 2	Boglewood 290 3	Boglewood 290 4
Boglewood 290 5	Boglewood 290 6	Boglewood 290 7	Boglewood 290 8
Boglewood 290 9	Boglewood 2910	Boglewood 2911	Boglewood 2912
Boglewood 2913