Object Details
- Artist
- Mather Brown, 7 Oct 1761 - 25 May 1831
- Sitter
- Thomas Jefferson, 13 Apr 1743 - 4 Jul 1826
- Exhibition Label
- Third president, 1801–1809
- A scientist, an Enlightenment philosopher, and one of the most accomplished—and complicated— personalities in American history, Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence and served his country as statesman, diplomat, and president. In 1803, during his first term as president, he orchestrated the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States and established the nation as a continental power. This expansion, more than any other, forced politicians to confront the U.S. economy’s dependence on slavery. Jefferson, who enslaved more than six hundred African Americans in his adult life, wrestled with the rift between his philosophical beliefs and his reliance on bondage.
- In 1786, when Jefferson was serving as the United States minister to France, he paid a visit to see his friend John Adams, then the United States minister to Great Britain. Adams suggested that Jefferson pose for the Boston-born artist Mather Brown, who was living in London at the time. This is the earliest known likeness of Jefferson.
- 3er presidente, 1801–1809
- Científico, filósofo ilustrado y una de las personalidades más talentosas y complejas de la historia estadounidense, Thomas Jefferson redactó de la Declaración de Independencia y sirvió a su país como estadista, diplomático y presidente. En 1803, durante su primer término presidencial, gestionó la compra de Luisiana, lo cual duplicó el territorio de EE.UU. y estableció al país como potencia continental. Esta expansión, más que ninguna otra, forzó a los políticos a confrontar el grado en que la economía estadounidense dependía de la esclavitud. Jefferson, quien en su adultez tuvo esclavizados a más 600 afroamericanos, vivió luchando con el dilema entre sus convicciones filosóficas y su relación con la labor esclava.
- En 1786, siendo embajador de EE.UU. en Francia, Jefferson visitó a su amigo John Adams, entonces embajador de EE.UU. en Gran Bretaña. Adams sugirió que Jefferson posara para el artista bostoniano Mather Brown, radicado en Londres para esa época. Este es el primer retrato de Jefferson que se conoce.
- Provenance
- John Adams; by descent to Charles Francis Adams, Dover, Mass.; bequest to NPG 1999
- See David Meschutt, “The Adams-Jefferson Portrait Exchange,” American Art Journal, Spring 1982, 53-4, n. 47
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; bequest of Charles Francis Adams; frame conserved with funds from the Smithsonian Women's Committee
- 1786
- Object number
- NPG.99.66
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- Stretcher: 90.8 × 72.4 cm (35 3/4 × 28 1/2")
- Frame: 102.4 × 81.9 × 8.3 cm (40 5/16 × 32 1/4 × 3 1/4")
- Place
- United Kingdom\England\Greater London\London
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Printed Material\Papers
- Artwork\Sculpture\Statue
- Costume\Headgear\Hat\Cap\Phrygian cap
- Symbols & Motifs\Symbolic Figure\Liberty
- Thomas Jefferson: Male
- Thomas Jefferson: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Government official\Congressman\Continental congressman
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US
- Thomas Jefferson: Business and Finance\Natural resources commerce\Agriculturist\Farmer
- Thomas Jefferson: Arts and Culture\Visual Arts\Architect
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\Secretary of State
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister
- Thomas Jefferson: Science and Technology\Inventor
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Virginia
- Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Government official\Governor\Virginia
- Thomas Jefferson: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Founder\University
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.99.66
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm48ff09ed3-ede7-4ee8-b6dc-9a56921712a6
