Harriet Lane Johnston

Copied William Henry Rinehart, Harriet Lane Johnston, 1873, marble, 2818 7812 58 in. (71.248.032.1 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston, 1994.72
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Artwork Details

Title
Harriet Lane Johnston
Date
1873
Dimensions
2818 7812 58 in. (71.248.032.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston
Mediums
Mediums Description
marble
Classifications
Keywords
  • Occupation — domestic — hostess
  • Portrait female — Johnston, Harriet Lane — bust
Object Number
1994.72

Artwork Description

In 1841, U.S. senator James Buchanan became the guardian of his niece Harriet Lane (1830-1903), who had lost both of her parents. As she matured, Harriet’s sharp wit, sociability, and good looks made her a political asset. When the bachelor Buchanan was elected president of the United States in 1856, Harriet became the official hostess of the White House. In her new capacity, she entertained artists and supported them in their efforts to establish a national art museum. She also welcomed international guests to Washington, including Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales. In 1866 she married Baltimore banker Henry Elliott Johnston and together they amassed an important art collection, which she bequeathed to “a national gallery of art.” William Henry Rinehart undercuts the cold formality of some nineteenth-century portrait busts by presenting Harriet smiling, with her hair delicately swept back in ribbons to convey her warmth and elegance.

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