Williams, W.J. “His Excellency John Adams, Esqr. President of the United States of America”

after William Joseph Williams. “His Excellency John Adams, Esqr. President of the United States of America.” 

probably Philadelphia: ca. 1840.  5 7/8 x 4 5/8.  Oval. Sepia stipple engraving by H. Houston.  Restrike on wove paper. Very good condition. A/A

This portrait was painted when John Adams was the second president of the United States.  This engraving is the last in a series of three prints engraved by Houston, which were based on an oil portrait of Adams by W. J.Williams (1759-1823).   The exact date of the painting is not known, but is considered to be the year 1795.  Houston is noted for being one of the earliest, and one of the best, stipple portrait engravers in the United States.  Houston probably came from Ireland as there are a few examples of portraits he executed in Ireland that are similar in style and signed “H. Houston.”  He arrived in Philadelphia in 1796 and his last known work is dated 1798.  He engraved portraits of Washington, Rittenhouse, Kosciusko and other well known figures of the time.