museum, art of a man named elijah boardman, who was a merchant, connecticut, and he is depicted by ralph earle, artist wearing a coat very similar to this almost. exactly the same in cut in is the best depiction that we have of american man in the 18th century wearing a very similar coat to this. what's really important about that portrait is it shows boardman in an interior the interior of his shop. you see his account books behind him as well as all the textiles and goods that he was selling at his shop. and what that shows us is this was an ordinary business man's suit, someone of a sort of an elevated status, but a businessman, a merchant. and that's what george washington was to show himself as when was sworn in as president of, the united states. this suit goes on. washington has it at his death. and it's divided. these these clothing items are divided up between family members. in 1802 after martha washington death. and what's really remarkable about this is that the family members preserve it as it was in the 19th century was really popular, cut up textiles and to divide them up and gi

and he is depicted by ralph earl, the artist, wearing a coat very similar to this, almost exactly thee in cut, and it's the best depiction that we have of an american man in the 18th century wearing a very similar coat to this. what's really important about that portrait is it shows boardman in an interior, the interior of his shop. you see his account books behind him as well as all of the textiles and goods that he was selling at his shop, and what that shows us is that this was an ordinary businessman suit -- someone an elevated status but a businessman, a merchant, and that's what george washington was trying to show himself as when he was sworn in as president of the united states. this suit then goes on, washington has it at his death, and it's divided up -- these clothing items are divided up between family members in 1802, after martha washington's death. and what's really remarkable about this piece is that the family members preserved it as it was. in the 19th century, was really popular to cut up textiles and to divide them up and give them away as gifts, and you can see a