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Catalog Data

Attribution:
Nicolas Eustache Maurin, 1799 - 1850  Search this
Copy after:
Gilbert Stuart, 3 Dec 1755 - 9 Jul 1828  Search this
Lithographer:
Pendleton Lithography Company, active c. 1825 - 1836  Search this
Sitter:
Thomas Jefferson, 13 Apr 1743 - 4 Jul 1826  Search this
Medium:
Lithograph on paper
Dimensions:
Image: 29.2 × 24.5 cm (11 1/2 × 9 5/8")
Sheet: 40.5 × 34.7 cm (15 15/16 × 13 11/16")
Mat: 56.1 × 40.9 cm (22 1/16 × 16 1/8")
Type:
Print
Date:
c. 1828
Exhibition Label:
Born Shadwell, Virginia
A scientist, an Enlightenment philosopher, and one of the most accomplished – and complicated – personalities in American history, Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence and served his country as statesman, diplomat, and president. In 1803, during his first term as president, he orchestrated the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States and established the nation as a continental power. This expansion, more than any other, forced politicians to confront the U.S. economy’s dependence on slavery. Jefferson, who enslaved more than six hundred African Americans in his adult life, wrestled with the rift between his philosophical beliefs and his reliance on bondage.
This lithograph reproduces a painting by Gilbert Stuart that was destroyed in an 1851 fire at the U.S. Capitol. In addition to highlighting Jefferson’s contributions to some of the foundational documents of the United States, it references his friendship with fellow diplomat and inventor Benjamin Franklin, who is represented by a sculpted bust.
Nacido en Shadwell, Virginia
Científico, filósofo ilustrado y una de las personalidades más talentosas y complejas de la historia estadounidense, Thomas Jefferson redactó de la Declaración de Independencia y sirvió a su país como estadista, diplomático y presidente. En 1803, durante su primer término presidencial, gestionó la compra de Luisiana, lo cual duplicó el territorio de EE.UU. y estableció al país como potencia continental. Esta expansión, más que ninguna otra, forzó a los políticos a confrontar el grado en que la economía estadounidense dependía de la esclavitud. Jefferson, quien en su adultez tuvo esclavizados a más 600 afroamericanos, vivió luchando con el dilema entre sus convicciones filosóficas y su relación con la labor esclava.
Esta litografía reproduce un retrato pintado por Gilbert Stuart y destruido en 1851 por un incendio en el Capitolio de la nación. Además de destacar las aportaciones de Jefferson a varios documentos fundacionales de Estados Unidos, la imagen alude a su amistad con el diplomático e inventor Benjamin Franklin, representado en un busto.
Topic:
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this
Printed Material\Book  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table  Search this
Printed Material\Papers  Search this
Artwork\Sculpture\Bust  Search this
Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pen\Quill  Search this
Container\Inkwell  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Male  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Visual Arts\Architect  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Science and Technology\Inventor  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Virginia  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Politics and Government\Governor\Virginia  Search this
Thomas Jefferson: Education and Scholarship\Founder\University  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number:
NPG.87.58.3
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm437769284-e50f-4e25-85dc-ccd4af6522b9
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.87.58.3