Early Life and Career Edward William J. Savage (November 26, 1761 – July 6, 1817) was an American portrait painter and engraver born in Princeton, Massachusetts. Initially, he pursued a career as a goldsmith and honed his engraving skills during an apprenticeship with a Boston line engraver—a craft that would profoundly shape his artistic vision. However, Savage’s true passion resided in painting, an endeavor he undertook without formal academic training. Despite this lack of traditional instruction, he swiftly gained recognition in 1790 thanks to his captivating portrait of George Washingto…