Hundreds of President George Washington’s (1732-1799) likenesses were produced in paint, marble, engravings, and decorative arts during and after his lifetime, more than any other president of the 18th and 19th centuries. Images of Washington were not just portraits but testaments to his heroic virtues, especially the concept of him as America's Cincinnatus. Like that Roman statesman and military leader, Washington willingly relinquished military and presidential powers to return to his farm at Mount Vernon. We will analyze how portraits and images of Washington by Charles Willson Peale, Gilbert Stuart, Jean-Antoine Houdon and others emphasized his virtues and greatness as the leader of the Continental Army and the nation's first president. We will see, too, how he was turned into a deity after death.

This class will cover how humans invented and reinvented money—originating from the barter system to the evolution of coins and paper money, to electronic and digital money. It will provide an introduction to cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin), how blockchain works, and the future direction of money.