This image comes courtesy of the Library of Congress.
The New York Public Library states that it appeared in the 1 Apr 1783 issue of
The Rambler’s Magazine; or, The annals of gallantry, glee, pleasure, and the bon ton; calculated for the entertainment of the polite world; and to furnish the man of pleasure with a most delicious banquet of amorous, Bacchanalian, whimsical, humorous, theatrical and polite entertainment. What we today call a “men’s magazine.” So of course it showed George Washington in a dress.
The British Museum's website has some additional information about the cartoon. Apparently the cartoon was published with an article which claimed that Mrs. Washington had died and on her deathbed she'd admitted that George Washington was actually a woman.
ReplyDeleteShe knew this when she married him but stayed married out of a sense of refined friendship.
That makes me suspect that the reason the Frenchman is saying "mon Amy" instead of "mon ami" is to highlight this (presumably they're saying Amy was Washington's name?).