Final answer:
George Washington did not start building the White House during his presidency, as it was started in 1792 and he selected the site in 1791. The first president to occupy the White House was John Adams in 1800.
Step-by-step explanation:
The construction of the White House started after George Washington's presidency. While George Washington selected the site for the White House in 1791, he never lived in it.
The construction began in 1792, and the first president to reside there was John Adams in 1800. The reference to the painting by George Munger, which shows the White House after the British burning of Washington, illustrates events that occurred well after the construction had begun.
Furthermore, the mentions of George Washington in New York and Philadelphia are related to his time in office while the capital resided in those cities, before the White House was completed in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, the references to Dolly Madison during the War of 1812 relate to events that are secondary to the construction start date. It's also notable that First Lady Dolly Madison saved the famous portrait of George Washington during the war.