William Thornton
1804
Gilbert Stuart, the artist famous for painting George Washington's face on the dollar bill, captured William Thornton in this 1804 portrait. Thornton was a true Renaissance man who actually designed the United States Capitol building! Dressed in a sharp brown coat and powdered wig, he holds a book, hinting at his many intellectual pursuits as a physician, inventor, and architect. The rich red drapery behind him gives the portrait a classic Neoclassical feel, perfectly framing a man who helped shape early American history.
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