American
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, mid 19th century
Ink on paper
These bust images of Jefferson and Adams were drawn in ink on a round cut-out of off-white paper. The figure of Jefferson is to our left. He wears a white wig with a curl over his forehead and a row of curls at ear height; he has peaked eyebrows, wide eyes, a long straight nose, and gently pursed lips. He wears a white ascot under a dark formal jacket. Adams, to our right, wears a curly greyish wig that is set back revealing an extensive forehead. He has rounded eyebrows, less wide eyes, a long pointy nose, and pursed lips. He also wears a white ascot under a dark formal jacket. The figures are slightly turned in, toward each other, but their gazes are out ahead. Above their heads, in semi-circle style, are the words DIED JULY 4TH.1826. At the bottom to our left, below the figure of Jefferson, are the words JEFFERSON/Born April 2, 1743. Below the figure of Adams are the words ADAMS/ Born Oct.r 19, 1733.
Long Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.