A George Washington painting sold for $600,000. A painting of George Washington, the first President of the United States, sitting on the piazza of his mansion along with his wife and her granddaughter was purchased, by the Mount Vernon estate with the help of anonymous donations. The painting had been loaned to Mount Vernon in 2004, and was displayed for a few months before being put away in storage. The owner of the painting decided to put it up for auction where it reached a price of over 600 thousand dollars. The artist Benjamin Henry Latrobe painted the picture in 1796 after a visit with the Washington family at their house on the Potomac River where the painting is set. This is thought to be the only known picture of the first couple on their piazza that was painted during their lifetime. Another painting of George Washington with an estimated value of 40 thousand dollars was sold at a different auction for over 362 thousand dollars. There have been many renderings of President George Washington, including paintings of significant historical events and battles. Another artist, Charles Willson Peale painted George Washington seven times over the course of his career, more than any other painter during his lifetime.