Noël LE MIRE (Rouen 1724 - Paris 1800) "Le Général Washington" Original etching signed and dated on the piece of paper at the bottom right of the composition "N Le Mire Sculp. 1780 ”, from a subject by Jean Baptiste Le Paon, published in Paris by LeMire himself at his address in Porte St. Jacques. Beautiful copy in the third state of three, in a contemporary edition, printed on laid paper bearing the "Fin de Tamizier Auvergne" watermark, typical of French eighteenth-century paper production, with good margins beyond the imprint of the plate, slightly burnished and with some gore at the edges, a diagonal fold on the left side at the top and a small tear recomposed in the center of the right side but overall in excellent general condition. The General is portrayed standing in front of the field tent holding the Declaration of Independence while a valet takes care of his horse, on the ground and on the table various other documents including a map of New Windsor. The original painting is now preserved in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. Bibliography: Hart "Catalog of the Engraved Portraits of Washington" New York 1904 No. 31. LeBlanc "Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes" Paris 1856, vol.2 pag.530 n ° 27. Milesi "Dictionary of Engravers" Bergamo 1989 page 208. Portalis - Beraldi "Les Graveurs du XVIII siecle" Paris 1881 vol.2 pag. 636 n ° 57. Measurements in mm: 363 x 505