Vanderlyn, John “James Monroe President of the United States.”

I. van der Lyn [sic]. “James Monroe President of the United States.” 

New York: E. Valentine, 1817.  9 ¼ x 7 5/8.  Stipple engraving by Thomas Gimbrede.  Subtle original hand color.  Paper toned.  Small blemishes in margins, not affecting image.  Else, very good condition. David McN. Stauffer. American Engravers upon Copper and Steel: 1066. A/A

A warm portrait of the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, by John Vanderlyn.  He was the grandson of colonial portrait painter, Pieter Vanderlyn.  Young Vanderlyn became an accomplished and well respected painter of historical and landscape scenes, as well as historical figures.  A protégé of Aaron Burr, who sponsored his study in Paris from 1796 to 1801, he was commissioned to paint portraits of Burr and his daughter when he returned from France.

After another sojourn in Europe, Vanderlyn returned to the US and painted portraits of statesmen of the time, including this one of President Monroe, and a posthumous portrait of Washington for the US House of Representatives after an earlier canvas by Gilbert Stuart.