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Washington's Reception on the Bridge at Trenton in 1789 on his Way to the Inaugurated Capital 1st Prest. of the U.S.
ca. 1840
John Ludlow Morton, designer (1792-1871); Thomas Kelley, engraver (ca. 1795-ca. 1841)
USA: New York, New York
Engraving on paper
overall: 6-1/8"h x 9-3/4"w
Special Acquisitions Fund
85.8.2

Washington's Reception on the Bridge at Trenton in 1789 on his Way to the Inaugurated Capital 1st Prest. of the U.S. engraving; shows central figure of George Washington surrounded by flower maidens; in banner at top: "The hero who defended the mothers/ Decem 26, 1775/ will protect the daughters"; on bottom "Washington's reception on the Bridge at Trenton in 1789 on his way to be Inaugurated 1st Pres. of U.S./ Engraved by T. Kelley/ Designed expressly for the Columbian Magazine by J. L. Morton".


In 1776, Washington had won an important battle, routing Hessian soldiers from Trenton, New Jersey. On his way to his inauguration in New York over a decade later, Trenton area residents called attention to Washington’s signal service to their community. They erected an arch and draped it with a banner that read: “The hero who defended the mothers [in] Decem 26, 1775 will protect the daughters." The motto linked Washington’s work as a military leader with his future role as United States President. For further information, Blog post, November 13, 2018, https://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2018/11/washingtons-reception-on-the-bridge-at-trenton-in-1785-designed-by-john-ludlow-morton.html