The Republican Court or American Society in the Days of Washington.

George Washington and the nascent Federal Period in America

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After the American Revolution, the United States established a free and independent republic.

General George Washington, now a citizen of this new republic, first became the leader of a grand Constitutional Convention. Subsequently, he was unanimously elected the first President of the United States.

The Republican Court of the book’s title is not a hearkening back to the days of rule by a distant British monarchy. It is, rather, a declaration of a new order in American society.

The book presents a sweeping history of George Washington’s rise to power and the establishment of the new federal government.  The majority of the book is devoted to Washington’s presidency, first in New York City and then in Philadelphia.

The book includes much on Martha Washington and her engraved portrait serves as the book’s frontispiece. As the semi-official head of political society, Martha is a key figure in The Republican Court. A chapter on “Society in Philadelphia” is included here and there are twenty additional engraved portraits of “distinguished women” of the “court.”

The engravings in the book were rendered after notable portraits painted by such American artists as Gilbert Stuart, John Singleton Copley, Robert Edge Pine, John Trumbull, and Thomas Sully. These artists, recognized purveyors of patriotic and heroic portarits, here turn their talents to the wives of the Founding Fathers. Founding Mothers, if you will.

In addition to Martha Washington, portraits here include Mrs. Alexander Hamilton (Elizabeth Schuyler), Mrs. James Madison (Dolly Payne), Mrs. John Jay (Sarah Livingston), Mrs. John Adams (Abigail Smith), and Mrs. Charles Carroll Jr. (Harriet Chew).

The combination of these fine engravings on heavy stock paper and the de luxe morocco bookbinding are suitable adornment for this history of the early days of the American Republic. The exuberance of the book’s design is a poignant reminder of the time of its making.

In less than a decade, the American Republic would be threatened by civil war. The optimism of The Republican Court and the gilded arts of the bookbinder set a confident tone. The Republic will endure.

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