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Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object name |
Painting |
Title |
Betsy Ross and the First Stars and Stripes, 1777 |
Artist or maker |
John Ward Dunsmore (1856-1945) |
Date |
1920 |
Place of origin |
USA |
Physical description |
Painting of Betsy Ross presenting her design for the American flag to George Washington. Betsy Ross, another woman, and a small girl are painted on the left. Washington, in uniform, sits on the right with two men behind him, one in uniform. They are inside a house, standing and sitting at table with the American flag draped over it between them. There is a fireplace in the background with rifle hanging above it, wood furniture on right with vase and flowers on top, and mirror hanging above it. |
Historical context |
Mrs. Betsy Ross, having just completed the flag ordered by Congress, received a call from the committee, and the first Stars and Stripes is submitted for their approval. The members of this committee, appointed by Congress, were General Washington, Robert Morris, and Colonel Ross. |
Past exhibit |
Dunsmore: Illustrating the American Revolutionary War |
Current exhibit |
Path to Liberty: The Emergence of a Nation |
Gallery label |
Path to Liberty: The Emergence of a Nation (2025): It is said that in 1776, upholsterer, Betsy Ross (1752-1836), received a Congressional order to create the first American flag. In late May of that same year, Ross received a visit from the Committee members in charge of the flag production that included, George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross. As the story goes, it was at this meeting that Ross submitted for approval the American flag. |
Catalogue number |
1936.02.014 |
Collection name |
Paintings and Sculpture |
Credit line |
Gift of George A. Zabriskie Memorial, 1936 |
People |
Dunsmore, John Ward Ross, Betsy Washington, George |