A portrait of George Washington (1732-1799) by Charles William Peale (1741-1827) fetched 4,4 millions euros (US $ 4,27 millions) at an auction sale in Cheverny, France, on June 9th 2002. This painting dated 1782 was acquired by New York dealer Thomas Colville who had come to Cheverny aboard a private jet.
This bid was the highest recorded in France this year, noted auctioneer Philippe Rouillac who added that it constituted a world record price for an American painting of the 18th Century.