The wig was common during Washington's time--it was popular among the wealthy and important men in England, too. Paintings during that time required sitting for hours--no instant photos like today! Few people would have pleasant expressions after sitting still for hours. You might argue that the painter could simply add a smile (like the Mona Lisa), but the trend then was to be serious and solemn for portraits. Even paintings of children from that era are without smiles or 'direct' eye contact.
The Father of the Nation by the time the portrait was manually painted with brush & paint, had but one lone surviving tooth in his head, a lower bicuspid. The homemade wooden dentures didn't fit all that well so he must of kept his mouth closed to avoid possible 'chattering' occurring, There is currently an excellent series of paintings of Dad, at the recently reopened National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C, on the upper floor. It also features the other 42 Chief Executive with cartoons, drawings & formal portraits. Dad was a little on the reserved side and maybe wished to present a somber facial appearance but the studies shows how when the natural teeth, were like stars and came out at night. Georgie boy's face dropped profoundly. As a side interest he did develop a 'pot' belly later in life too!
George Washington wore false teeth...wooden, in fact. I have read that the teeth didn't fit well and he was trying to keep them in his mouth by not smiling. I don't know that the technology of the time ever progressed beyond wooden teeth. His wooden teeth are on display.
Maby he didn't want to smile. His mouth may have hurt. Or he may have not wanted to show his teeth. Plus he didn't wear a wig it was his hair powdered with white. He is a founding father. His face is on MT. Rushmore in South Dakota. He owned slaves.
George Washington didn't wear a wig.. It was his natural hair powdered white. I remember this from history. I went seeking for a source to confirm and found one.
