George Washington in the Schoolhouse

 The unfinished George Washington portrait was a common sight in schoolhouses across the country. The original was commissioned by Martha Washington herself in 1796, but artist Gilbert Stuart left the work unfinished so he could keep it as a reference for future commissions.

Here, copies of the Washington portrait hang in the Georgetown and Model Schools.

Georgetown School, 1950s. Teacher, Lelia Nichols. Contributed by Charles Nichols.

Model School, 1938. Teacher, Beth Duncan. Contributed by Jan Selleck.