John Adams
1826
Gilbert Stuart captured the second U.S. President in this striking 1826 portrait, showing off Adams' famously fiery personality through his rosy cheeks and intense, almost grumpy stare. Seated in a plush red armchair that contrasts sharply with his dark coat and wild white hair, the former president looks like he's ready to argue about politics at a moment's notice. Stuart was the go-to portraitist for founding fathers, but he reportedly found Adams to be a particularly stubborn sitter, resulting in this wonderfully candid and unflinching look at a man who never shied away from a fight.
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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