Portrait of The Marquis de Lafayette (Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette)(1757-1834)
Date1824
Artist
Samuel Lovett Waldo (1783-1861)
MediumOil on twill-weave canvas
DimensionsOther (Unframed): 30 1/8 x 25 1/8in. (76.5 x 63.8cm)
Framed: 35 1/4 x 30 3/8 x 1 5/8in.
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1930-593,A&B
DescriptionA bust-to-half-length portrait of an older, seated man, his hands not shown. He looks towards the viewer's right. His eyes are brown. His hair is dark brown and tousled, his face heavily jowled. He wears a black coat, white shirt, white neck cloth, and mustard yellow waistcoat. Part of his upholstered, tack-edged chair is visible over his proper left shoulder. Behind him, an undulating red drapery is pulled up into the upper right corner to reveal a vague exterior view that occupies most of the left side of the picture.The 2 1/2 in Neo-classical cove mitered frame with gilt finish is original.
Label TextIn 1824, President James Monroe invited the aging Marquis de Lafayette, last living general of the American Revolution, to visit the United States. More than 40 years after the war’s end, Lafayette remained a hero in American eyes. His “triumphal return” included all 24 states and he was met with great fanfare at each stop. In September, Lafayette was received by Monroe at the White House. The following summer the two journeyed to Oak Hill, the president’s Loudoun County, Virginia, home.
The early history of this portrait suggests that Lafayette commissioned it himself while in Washington, D.C. He chose London-trained Samuel Lovett Waldo, a well-known New York City artist and founding member of the National Academy of Design. Intended as a gift for Monroe, Lafayette likely presented the painting during his visit to Oak Hill. It purportedly hung in the Monroe family home and descended to the president’s daughter, Maria Monroe Gouverneur.
InscribedAn inscription on the back of the primary support reportedly reads: "General Lafayette AE 67 painted for President James Monroe by S.L. Waldo 1824." No photographic image of this inscription has been found, and the back of the primary support is now covered by a lining canvas, obscuring any markings. It appears that the above transcription was made at the time conservator Russell Quandt removed a former lining canvas in 1964 (and that the transcription was made by him). N. B. Another copy of the transcription omits the word "James", and it is uncertain which is correct.
ProvenanceThe portrait was painted by Waldo in Washington at Lafayette's request as a gift for President Monroe. Work was completed while Lafayette resided at Gadsby's Hotel where Andrew Jackson was also staying when Waldo painted his likeness. The Lafayette portrait eventually hung at Oak Hill, President Monroe's Loudoun Country, Virginia, home. It was inherited by his daughter, Maria Monroe. In 1850, her husbland, Samuel L. Gouverneur, sold Oak Hill to Colonal James W. Fairfax. The sale included objects that had belonged to Monroe, among them the portrait of Lafayette. In 1870, Dr. George Quimby acquired the portrait from Colonel Fairfax, and it was subsequently purchased from Dr. Quimby's estate by Augustus F. deForest. A letter dated 20 March 1934 from William Graves Perry of Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, Architects, speculates: "I believe there were two portraits painted by Waldo of Lafayette in 1824."
Exhibition(s)
1660-1680
ca. 1755-1758
1792-1795 probably
ca. 1840