"Lady Washington's Reception" after D. Huntington, Engraved by A. H. Ritchie, 1865

This hand-colored engraving by A. H. Ritchie is entitled "Lady Washington's Reception." The engraving is based on Daniel F. Huntington's original painting "The Republican Court in the Time of Washington, or Lady Washington's Reception Day." The large oil-on-canvas painting was completed in 1861 and the subscription engraving was published by Emil Seitz in 1865. The lively and detailed scene depicts one of First Lady receptions, a representative tableau of the Friday evening levees held by Martha throughout her husband's term. "President Washington knew that he had to be accessible to the public, but worried that a constant stream of curious guests would interfere with his ability to do his job effectively. In May 1789, after consulting with his advisors, Washington decided that weekly receptions, which he called "levees," would give citizens sufficient access while allowing him to use carefully scripted social rituals to project a dignified public image of both the presidency and the n