Scholars have disagreed about whether or not this bust actually represents the twenty-first president of the United States; further research might establish the circumstances surrounding its creation. Sculpture busts of President Arthur were made by several of Lot Flannery’s contemporaries, including Augustus Saint-Gaudens. While living in Washington, Flannery made several presidential portraits, including his popular monumental statue of Lincoln in front of the old city hall in Washington, and a bust of Benjamin Franklin in the government printing office.