Harriet Lane Johnston

John Henry Brown, Harriet Lane Johnston, 1878, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of May S. Kennedy, 1928.1.1
John Henry Brown, Harriet Lane Johnston, 1878, watercolor on ivory, 4 3⁄4 x 3 1⁄2 in. (12.1 x 8.9 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of May S. Kennedy, 1928.1.1
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Harriet Lane Johnston
Artist
Date
1878
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
4 3⁄4 x 3 1⁄2 in. (12.1 x 8.9 cm) oval
Credit Line
Bequest of May S. Kennedy
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait female — Johnston, Harriet Lane — bust
  • Occupation — art — collector
Object Number
1928.1.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1928.1.1

Artwork Description

Harriet Lane Johnston (1830-1903) was President James Buchanan’s niece and ward, and served as hostess of the White House during Buchanan’s administration. Orphaned at age eleven, she was raised by her uncle, but came into her own as a strong presence in the White House. In 1903 she earned the affectionate nickname “First Lady of the National Collection of Fine Arts” when she gave her art collection to the “national art gallery,” which Congress decided should be part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Works by this artist (4 items)

John Henry Brown, Mrs. John Jordan, Jr., 1848, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1952.5.3
Mrs. John Jordan, Jr.
Artist
Date1848
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
John Henry Brown, Mrs. John Willis Ellis (Mary White), 1846, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1938.11.2
Mrs. John Willis Ellis (Mary White)
Artist
Date1846
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
John Henry Brown, James Buchanan, ca. 1865, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston, 1906.9.2
James Buchanan
Artist
Dateca. 1865
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
John Henry Brown, Harriet Lane Johnston, 1878, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of May S. Kennedy, 1928.1.1
Harriet Lane Johnston
Artist
Date1878
watercolor on ivory
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
William M. S. Doyle, Portrait of a Lady, 1810, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1954.6.3
Portrait of a Lady
Artist
Date1810
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
Unidentified (Puerto Rican), Da. Barbara Vizcarrondo de Elzaburu, 19th century, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.20
Da. Barbara Vizcarrondo de Elzaburu
Artist
Unidentified (Puerto Rican)
Date19th century
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
George Catlin, Portrait of Mary Catlin, ca. 1827, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Morse, 1984.139.2
Portrait of Mary Catlin
Artist
Dateca. 1827
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1805, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.59.1
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Unidentified
Dateca. 1805
watercolor on ivory
Not on view