James Buchanan

John Henry Brown, James Buchanan, ca. 1865, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston, 1906.9.2
Copied 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
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
James Buchanan
Artist
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
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
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.”