This portrait of Abigail Adams was done by Gilbert Stuart, who was one of the most well-known portrait artists of the time. She was the wife of President John Adams and the mother of President John Quincy Adams. She traveled to Europe with her husband as he served the new United States in France and Great Britain. Although possessed of no formal education, Abigail was an avid reader and took charge of her children's education when it was interrupted by the Revolutionary War. Despite her failing health, she was the first First Lady to preside over the White House in Washington, D.C.

This portrait of Commodore John Barry was completed ca. 1801 by acclaimed portraitist Gilbert Stuart. For his distinguished naval service during the American Revolution, Barry earned the moniker "the Father of the American Navy." Barry is depicted wearing the badge of the Society of the Cincinnati, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Bates Littlehales photographed the painting in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The portrait was on loan to the White House from the Collection of J. J. Ryan.

This portrait of Commodore John Barry was completed ca. 1801 by acclaimed portraitist Gilbert Stuart. For his distinguished naval service during the American Revolution, Barry earned the moniker "the Father of the American Navy." Barry is depicted wearing the badge of the Society of the Cincinnati, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Bates Littlehales photographed the painting in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The portrait was on loan to the White House from the Collection of J. J. Ryan.

This portrait of Commodore John Barry was completed ca. 1801 by acclaimed portraitist Gilbert Stuart. For his distinguished naval service during the American Revolution, Barry earned the moniker "the Father of the American Navy." Barry is depicted wearing the badge of the Society of the Cincinnati, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Bates Littlehales photographed the painting in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The portrait was on loan to the White House from the Collection of J. J. Ryan.

This portrait of Commodore John Barry was completed ca. 1801 by acclaimed portraitist Gilbert Stuart. For his distinguished naval service during the American Revolution, Barry earned the moniker "the Father of the American Navy." Barry is depicted wearing the badge of the Society of the Cincinnati, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Bates Littlehales photographed the painting in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The portrait was on loan to the White House from the Collection of J. J. Ryan.

This oil on canvas portrait of President George Washington was painted by Gilbert Stuart around 1805, six years after the President’s death. This item was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Payson in memory of Pvt. Daniel Carroll Payson. Washington served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He served as president from April 30, 1789 until March 4, 1797. The portrait was displayed in the Cabinet Room during the John F. Kennedy administration. Bates Littlehales photographed the portrait in May 1962 in the frame that housed the portrait at the time.

This oil on canvas portrait of President George Washington was painted by Gilbert Stuart around 1805, six years after the President’s death. This item was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Payson in memory of Pvt. Daniel Carroll Payson. Washington served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He served as president from April 30, 1789 until March 4, 1797. The portrait was displayed in the Cabinet Room during the John F. Kennedy administration. Bates Littlehales photographed the portrait in May 1962 in the frame that housed the portrait at the time.

This oil on canvas portrait of President George Washington was painted by Gilbert Stuart around 1805, six years after the President’s death. This item was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Payson in memory of Pvt. Daniel Carroll Payson. Washington served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He served as president from April 30, 1789 until March 4, 1797. The portrait was displayed in the Cabinet Room during the John F. Kennedy administration. Bates Littlehales photographed the portrait in May 1962 in the frame that housed the portrait at the time.

This is a portrait of First Lady Martha Washington done by Gilbert Stuart. Gilbert Stuart was a renown portrait artist whose portraits of George Washington, Dolley Madison, and John Quincy Adams, among others, are part of the White House Collection.

This full-length portrait of George Washington was painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1797, the final year of his presidency. While other artists had depicted Washington as a military leader, Stuart became the first portraitist to paint an authoritative image of Washington as the country's first president. Washington holds a sword in his left hand, alluding to his past military service, but appears in civilian clothes, emphasizing the fact that he had resigned his commission as a military leader. A book entitled Constitution and Laws of the United States leans against the table leg. The portrait was installed in the White House in November 1800. During the War of 1812, First Lady Dolley Madison famously saved the portrait from near-certain demise. Before vacating the premises on August 24, 1814, Mrs. Madison ordered that official papers and the Washington portrait should be saved from British hands. The painting returned to the White House after it was rebuilt in 1817. Washington served as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The first president was in office from April 30, 1789 until March 4, 1797.

This oil on canvas portrait of President George Washington was painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1805, 6 years after the President’s death. This item was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Payson in memory of Pvt. Daniel Carroll Payson. Washington served as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He served as president from April 30, 1789 until March 4, 1797.

This portrait of John Quincy Adams, son of America's second president John Adams, was painted by renowned portraitist Gilbert Stuart in 1818. At the time, the younger Adams served as President James Monroe's secretary of state. Adams became president on March 4, 1825 and served until March 4, 1829. He is one of only two Presidents, along with Andrew Johnson, to serve in Congress after he left the White House. Adams served in the U. S. House of Representatives.

This portrait of Dolley Payne Madison was painted by renowned artist Gilbert Stuart in 1804. At the time, the future first lady often acted as White House hostess for Thomas Jefferson, while her husband James Madison served as Jefferson's secretary of state. Madison served as president from March 4, 1809 until March 4, 1817, and Mrs. Madison is most famously known for saving the portrait of George Washington from the White House before it was burned by the British during the War of 1812. Both of the Madisons sat for Stuart during his 18-month stay in Washington, D.C., when his services were in constant demand. Mrs. Madison's portrait first hung alongside her husband's at their Virginia estate, Montpelier, and officially became part of the White House collection in 1994.

This portrait of First Lady Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams was painted by prolific portraitist Gilbert Stuart between 1821 and 1826. Mrs. Adams first sat for the portrait when her husband, John Quincy Adams, served as Secretary of State for President James Monroe, and it was finished during Adams' presidency, which began on March 4, 1825 and ended on March 4, 1829.