Dolley Payne Madison
Mrs. James Madison
Gilbert Stuart captured the sparkle of America's most famous hostess in this glowing 1804 portrait. Notice her fashionable white empire-waist dress and rosy cheeks—a perfect example of the Neoclassical style that was all the rage in the early 19th century. Here's a fun twist: Dolley Madison is legendary for saving Stuart's portrait of George Washington from the burning White House in 1812, so she literally rescued the masterpiece of the very man who painted her!
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
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