Foremost in the political situation was the crucial issue that the Founders recognized but failed to solve: the coexistence of democracy with slavery. After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, westward expansion was inevitable, and organizing this territory into new states dominated nineteenth-century American politics. State representatives-who embodied diverse regional and economic interests-viewed the duties of government through different lenses, and political rivalries among them grew fierce as they debated the reach and limits of federal power. Washington not only established the legitimacy of the new government but also set precedents for the scope of presidential power, including the tradition of leaving office after two terms.įollowing Washington’s tenure, separate political parties emerged: the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party. The ornate title recognized the critical role that he had in the creation of the American Republic as well as the weight of his responsibilities as the first president of the United States. All images via americaspresidents.si.edu.As early as 1795, Americans regarded George Washington as the Patriae pater (father of his country). "America's Presidents" showcases the nation's largest collection of portraits of all the presidents beyond the White House's own, capturing the permanent exhibition that lies at the heart of the Portrait Gallery's mission to tell the American story through the individuals who have shaped it.įeatured image: President Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley © Kehinde Wiley. Today, we will inspect eight presidential portraits who, all in their own way, offer us a small insight into how the portrayed man wanted the world to remember them.Įditors’ Tip: America's Presidents: National Portrait GalleryĪ striking collection of presidential portraits from the National Portrait Gallery, this volume encapsulates the spirit of the most powerful office in the world. The official paintings of US presidents were usually commissioned from the best artists of their day, and all of them provide a valuable insight into each portrayed leader. Another notable trend is that, as the years went by, US president portraits have developed and turned more into works of art than straight depictions. However, when observed collectively, all these portraits have one thing in common - they all evoke the history and stories of the nation's highest office and the individuals who have occupied it. Some presidential portraits were made to emphasize sophistication, some were painted in order to be striking some were calculated to impress us with their gravity while others are unexpectedly intimate.
Greatest Presidential Portraits From the White House Gallery
The other change recent presidencies saw implemented is that now it's acceptable for the portrait to be commissioned after the presidential term is finished. Traditionally, these pictures were painted in oil, but modern times saw a shift that allowed photos to also be acceptable, usually until a painting is completed. Since Barack and Michelle Obama recently unveiled their official portraits at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, we thought this might be a good time to do a little bit of retrospecting and take a look at the most intriguing US presidential portraits hanging in the White House and the National Portrait Gallery.īeginning with Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, it has been a custom for the President of the United States to have an official portrait taken during his time in office.
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