James Buchanan

John Henry Brown, James Buchanan, ca. 1865, watercolor on ivory, 5 ¹⁄₂ x 4 ¹⁄₄ in. (14.0 x 10.8 cm) rectangle, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston, 1906.9.2

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Artwork Details

Title: James Buchanan
Artist: John Henry Brown
Date: ca. 1865
Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 5 ¹⁄₂ x 4 ¹⁄₄ in. (14.0 x 10.8 cm) rectangle
Credit Line: Bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston
Mediums: watercolor
Mediums Description: watercolor on ivory
Classifications: Painting
Miniature
Subjects: Occupation — political — president
Portrait male — Buchanan, James — bust
Object Number: 1906.9.2
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1906.9.2

Artwork Description

John Henry Brown chose to paint this miniature from a daguerreotype he made of United States president James Buchanan (1791-1868), and took great satisfaction in the likeness. James Buchanan Henry, the president’s nephew and ward, later wrote a biography of his uncle, commenting that “The best likeness of him is a miniature portrait on ivory, by Brown of Philadelphia . . . Buchanan was tall---over six feet, broad shouldered, and had a portly and dignified bearing . . . his features [were] strong and well marked, [and] his eyes were blue, intelligent and kindly, with the peculiarity that one was far and the other near sighted, which resulted in a slight habitual inclination of the head to one side.”