Portraits Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
PA.029 |
Title |
John Quincy Adams |
Artist |
Harding, Chester, 1792-1866 |
Date |
1827-28 circa |
Description |
John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), sixth president of the United States, was born in Quincy, Massachusetts 11 July 1767. He was the son of John Adams, the second president of the United States, and Abigail Quincy Smith. He graduated from Harvard College in 1787 and was admitted to the bar in 1790. He married Louisa Catherine Johnson in 1797 and in 1803 was elected to the United States Senate from Massachusetts. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and President of the United States in 1824. Portrait. Adult male subject in Colonial dress, bust view, facing right three-quarter turn, with eyes facing forward. Right hand of subject is thrust into vest, Napoleon style. The subject, mostly bald with small piece of light brown hair visible behind right ear, has brown eyes and wears a dark brown suit and white shirt. Background shows a red curtain placed at a diagonal to the subject. |
Object Name |
Painting |
Medium |
Oil Paint |
Material |
Canvas |
Dimensions |
H-76.2 W-63.5 cm |
Credit line |
Bequest of Dr. William Newton Mercer |
Provenance |
1874, October 12 - Bequest of Dr. William Newton Mercer |
Collection |
Painting |
People |
Mercer, William Newton, 1792-1874 Harding, Chester, 1792-1866 Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 |
Notes |
Formerly #16. Harding painted the this first version during the presidency of John Quincy Adams. Later, when both men were in Washington, D.C., Harding made a replica for himself which is now housed at the United States Department of State. The only difference between the two portraits is in the angle of the wrist of Adam's right hand. Donated along with portrait of Daniel Webster also by C. Harding (#19) 1970 (Oct-Nov) National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. "A Man for All Seasons: The Life Portraits of John Quincy Adams"; 1985 (12 April-2 Sept) National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. and (27 Sept-9 Dec) J.B. Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky "A Truthful Likeness: Chester Harding and His Portraits"; 1990 National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. "Old Hickory: A Life Sketch of Andrew Jackson" |
Related Publications |
Annals (337-9, 341); Minutes 1925-26 (9), 10 March 1942; 1958 ACC Harding; Annual Report 1956-57 (23); 1963 ACC ; 1954 Swedish American Line; 1958 D.C. Heath Company; 1970 The Adams Papers: Series IV: Portraits by Butterfield ( ); 1970 A Man for All Seasons:The Life Portraits of John Quincy Adams by Sadik (facing 17); 1979 The Art Museums of New England by Faiso |