The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-14
PORTRAITS OF FAMOUS MEN.
A Descriptive Catalogue of Those In
the State Department

logue of the collection of portraits in the
Department OF State. The pamphlet. which
has recently been issued by the Govern
ment Printing Office, contains an histori-
cal sketch of many of the paintings and
the artists who executed them.
The portrait of George Washington was
made by Charles Wilson Peale, who was
born in Chestertown, Md. April is. 17f1.
and died in Philadelphia. on the auniyer-
sary of Washingtons birth, 1927. He
painted Washington from life fourteen
times and from the originals made many
copies. The portrait in the department
was purchased when John Quincy Adams
was Secretary 81 State. In 1910 it was
repaired and cleaned. and it is supposed
that it's present inferiority is due to the
treatment which it received at that time.
When the picture was acquired it was en-
Enthusiastically praised by the officials who
still remembered Washington.
The medallion of James Madison and
its author, Giuseppe Ceracchi. have an IN
teresting history. Ceracchi was an italian
sculptor of high reputation. he was boin
about 1860 and executed in 1901. In 1875
he made a bust of Napoleon Bonaparte
WDen Italy was invaded ny I've
years prior to that time he came to Phila-
delphia, where he remained for several
years and made busts of Washington,
Hamilton, and others. The medallion OK
Madison was made in 1892. He had pro-
ject for an elaborate monument TO tne
American revolution. and in 1895 circu-
lar asking for contributions was signed
by Washington. Hamilton. Fisher Ames,
Timothy Pickering, and Others.
inc hnf TlQ q
April 80. 1880, says:
1.-THE Ceracchi named was an artist eel
ebrated by his genius, and who was
thought a rival. in embryo, to Canova,
and doomed to the guillotiiie as the au-
thor or patron, guilty or suspected, OF
the Internal machine for destroying Bon
aparte | knew him we'll having been
ledger in the same house with him. and
much leased by his eager hopes, on which
| constantly threw cold water, OF obtain
ing the aid of Congress for his grand pro-
ject. Having failed in this chance, he
was advised by me and others to make the
experiment of subscriptions, with the
most auspicious names heading the list:
but Just as the circular address was about
to be despatched. it was put into his head
that the scheme was merely to get rid of
his opportunities and. being OF the genus
irritable, he suddenly went off in anger
and disgust, leaving behind him heavy
drafts on General Washington and Mr..
jefferson for the busts ne had presented
to them. His drafts were not the effect
of avarice but of his wants. all his re-
sources having been exhausted in the te
dious pursuit of his object. He was an
enthusiastic worshipper of liberty and
fame; and his whole soul was bent on Sc
curing the latter by rearing monument
to the former, which he considered as
personiied in the American Republic.
Attempts were made to engage him for
statue of General w, but he would not
stoop to that"
The medallion of Madison was pur-
chased by the late J. c. MCGUIRE. of
Washington. from Mrs Madison. and later
purchased from his estate by order OF
Secretary Thomas F. Bayard.
The portrait of Alexander Barring. Lord
Ashburton, was executed by George Peter
Alexander Healy. who was born in Bos-
ton, June 10, 1913. and who died IN Chi
cago, June "a. 1894 For more .han
half a century he was one of the most
notable Of American portrait painters. OK
ercising his art in London. Paris. and
in cities of this country. Among the MI
merous portraits of distinguished PERSONS
which he painted are hose of Louis
Philippe, Marshal Soult, Lewis Cass. John
Sherman. Theirs, and Lord Lyons. The
portrait in the Department Of State was
painted in 1913 in commemoration of the
Webster Ashburton Treaty. defining the
northeastern boundary of the United
States. The painting of Daniel Webster,
which also adorns the State Department,
was painted in 1913. by Mr.. Healy to
form companion picture to that of Lord
Ashburton. The same artist also painted
a portrait of E. B. Washburne, when the
latter was Minister to France, and which
was exhibited at the Centennial Exhibit
tion in 1876. The portrait of Mr.. Wash
burne in the departments collection was
painted in Chicago in 1883. forty years
after he had made the portrait OF Lord
AshburtOn.
Henry Clays portrait in the department
is the work of Edward Dalton Marchant
native of Massachusetts, who died in 1857.
He also painted notable portraits of An
drew Jackson. Bishop Meade. John Quincy
Adams, and Abraham Lincoln. The latter
is now in the council chamber of hide
pendence Hall. Two years after her hus-
bands death Mrs. Marchant was invited
to send the portraits of Adams and Clay
to the Department of State for inspection.
Mr.. Blaine. then Secretary of State. in
recommending their purchase, wrote TO
the Chairman of the House Library Com
mittee: The portrait of Mr.. Clay is, per-
haps the finest portrait of him in exist
ence, and that of Mr.. Adams, l am sure,
from my own recollection OF him, is
faithful likeness" The sum of $500 was
paid for the portraits under special ap-
preparation by Congress.
Another portrait of John Quincy Adams
in the departments collection is the work
of Jean Baptiste Adolphe Gilbert, who was
born in Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe, jan
uary "a, 1902. His principal works were
landscapes and battle pieces. In 1929 he
won the Grand PriX de Rome. He resided
chiefly in Rome, but for a number of years
made his home in Washington, and the
portrait of Adams is one of the few from
his brush. It came into the possession of
Mrs Columbus Munroe, the daughter of
William W. Seaton, the associate editor
of the National lntelligencer," and was
purchased from her son, Seaton Munroe,
January a. 1891.
One of the portraits of William II.
Seward in the Department of State was
executed by an unknown artist. 1t was
purchased from NJ. B. Brady. a Washing
ton photographer, in 1878, and concerning
it he wrote:
This portrait Is considered the most
perfect likeness of the celebrated original.
taken from life in this city, in the full
fruition OF his genius and great national
renown. at time fraught with great dan
ger to this Republic. 1t has always been
considered a standard likeness, and ex-
tensively copied in Europe and this coun-
try for the purpose of engraving and lith-
ographing."
Mr. Frederick w. Seward, writing to
the department January II. 1898, says:
"Mr. Brady made several photographs
of INV father But one, taken Just before
or during the war. was considered the
best likeness. and proved to be the one
....-t .ntisfactnrY TO the nuhlic. II ANns