21. Captn. Posey who came here the 19th. went up to Alexandria this day. I set again to take the Drapery.
Peale’s practice was to sketch the painting out in one neutral color, show the sketch to the subject for his approval, and then paint the portrait, thus demanding a minimum of time and patience of the subject. On this day Peale had GW wear the “Drapery” (clothing) chosen for the painting, which was GW’s colonel’s uniform from his service in the Virginia Regiment (
, 1:106; , 24; see frontis., vol. 1).