• A Hartford Family
    Unknown
    portraits
    likeness
    painting
    This painting by an unknown artist is a portrait of a family relaxing in their lounge or parlor, circa 1840-1850. Members of the family of five sit about, playing the piano, working on needlepoint, and playing with the family dog. In the back, a young African American girl serves the mother.
  • Capitol, Washington
    Unknown
    U.S. Capitol
    Washington, D.C.
    engraving
    This oil on tin painting by an unknown artist is replicated from a steel engraving by William Henry Bartlett. The painting is an early representation of the United States Capitol with a dusty, bare ground surrounding it. Builders, planners, and passersby are scattered across the foreground.
  • Defeat of the English Boat Guerriere by the American Boat Constitution
    Unknown
    seascapes
    War of 1812
    ships
    painting
    This seascape was done by an unknown artist. The painting depicts the victory of the USS Constitution over the HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812. The painting shows the Guerriere with broken masts and smoke and fire consuming the defeated ship.
  • Boy Resting in the Woods
    Unknown
    landscapes
    painting
    This painting of two boys resting under the shade of trees at the bend of a river was done by an unknown artist around 1900.
  • Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert de Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
    Unknown
    sculpture
    busts
    likeness
    American Revolution
    This plaster bust by an unknown artist is of the Marquis de Lafayette around 1930. A French aristocrat, Lafayette is renowned for his allegiance with the United States during the American Revolutionary War and his friendships with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton, among others. Lafayette's 1824-1825 visits to the White House and to Washington, D.C. were among the highlights of his triumphal tour of the United States, as people honored the last surviving French general of the Revolutionary War and one of the last remaining living links to the Revolutionary Era.
  • Horatio Nelson
    Unknown
    sculpture
    busts
    likeness
    This bust of Horatio Nelson was done by an unknown artist. Horatio Nelson was a British hero of the Napoleonic Wars who died victorious at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805. The bust is dated 1905, the centennial of Nelson's victory.
  • Miss Kennedy
    Unknown
    silhouettes
    portraits
    likeness
    This ink silhouette on paper of an unidentified "Miss Kennedy" was done by an unknown artist around 1840-1850. Miss Kennedy's features and attire are drawn on the silhouette in white. Silhouette portraits were fashionable and readily available throughout Europe and the United States in the 1800s.
  • Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
    Unknown
    medallions
    likeness
    American Revolution
    This glass and sulphide medallion of the Marquis de Lafayette was done by an unknown artist around 1850. A French aristocrat, Lafayette is renowned for his allegiance with the United States during the American Revolutionary War and his friendships with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton, among others. Lafayette's 1824-1825 visits to the White House and to Washington, D.C. were among the highlights of his triumphal tour of the United States, as people honored the last surviving French general of the Revolutionary War and one of the last remaining living links to the Revolutionary Era.
  • Laying of the Atlantic Cable
    Unknown
    seascapes
    painting
    ships
    technology
    This seascape was done by an unknown artist around 1850. The painting depicts a ship from the Atlantic Telegraph company presumably laying the telegraph cable between Ireland and Newfoundland, Canada that connected the North America to Europe. The original cable was finished in 1858.
  • Benjamin Franklin
    Unknown
    sculpture
    busts
    likeness
    American Revolution
    This bronze bust of Benjamin Franklin was done by an unknown artist around 1820. Franklin's head and shoulders rest on a tall, doric column. Franklin was a renowned author, inventor and philosopher who was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He also served as the representative of the United States in France during the Revolutionary War. In the early to mid 19th century, establishment of a republican government in the U.S. patterned on Greek and Roman principles helped spur a revival of interest in classical forms and ideas in the fine arts.
  • View of the Harbor at Canton
    Unknown
    cityscapes
    China
    ships
    painting
    flags
    This painting of the harbor at Canton, perhaps the province or city in southern China, was done by an unknown artist around 1847-1856. The bustling port is full of ships and cargo, with a building flying American and French flags, among others, shown on the right side.
  • Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
    Unknown
    portraits
    American Revolution
    likeness
    This oil on glass portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette was done by an unknown artist in the early 19th century. A French aristocrat, Lafayette is renowned for his allegiance with the United States during the American Revolutionary War and his friendships with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton, among others. His 1824-1825 visits to the White House and to Washington, D.C. were among the highlights of his triumphal tour of the United States, as people honored the last surviving French general of the Revolutionary War and one of the last remaining living links to the Revolutionary Era.
  • View of the Harbor of Hong Kong
    Unknown
    Hong Kong
    cityscapes
    ships
    painting
    This painting showing the Hong Kong harbor was done by an unknown artist around 1847-1856. This distant view includes large ships in the foreground, with the city itself clinging to the hills rising in the background of the canvas.
  • Unidentified Subject - Female
    Unknown
    silhouettes
    portraits
    likeness
    This silhouette of an unidentified woman was done by an unknown artist in the early 19th century. Silhouette portraits were fashionable and readily available throughout Europe and the United States in the 1800s.
  • View of Hong Kong
    Unknown
    cityscapes
    Hong Kong
    painting
    ships
    This painting is a view of Hong Kong by an unknown artist around 1853. This distant view includes large ships in the foreground, with the city itself clinging to the hills rising in the background of the canvas. The hills move in a chain across the canvas, receding to the left. It was acquired for the White House Collection by the White House Historical Association in 1973.
  • Unidentified Subject - Male
    Unknown
    silhouettes
    portraits
    likeness
    This silhouette of an unidentified man was done by an unknown artist in the early 19th century. Silhouette portraits were fashionable and readily available throughout Europe and the United States in the 1800s.
  • View of Macao
    Unknown
    cityscapes
    China
    painting
    ships
    This painting is a view of the Chinese city of Macao, or Macau, by an unknown artist from around 1853. The waterfront curves to the left with neat buildings arranged along the water's edge, while numerous boats come and go and people walk along the road. It was acquired for the White House Collection by the White House Historical Association in 1973.
  • Unidentified Subject - Male
    Unknown
    silhouettes
    portraits
    likeness
    This silhouette of an unidentified man was done by an unknown artist in the early 19th century. Silhouette portraits were fashionable and readily available throughout Europe and the United States in the 1800s.
  • Daniel Webster
    Unknown
    sculpture
    likeness
    Cabinet
    Congress
    busts
    This bust of Daniel Webster was done by an unknown artist. The solid white marble form shows only the details of Webster's face, while the torso is pristine solid stone. Webster was a highly regarded orator and served as secretary of state under three different presidents (William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore). He also served in the House of Representatives and the Senate, representing New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
  • U. S. Capitol
    Unknown
    U.S. Capitol
    Washington, D.C.
    painting
    This painting of the U.S. Capitol was done by an unknown artist after William Henry Bartlett. The building represents the Old Capitol as completed by Architect of the Capitol Charles Bulfinch, circa 1836-1837, with Pennsylvania Avenue below it. People in various types of dress walk along the road.
  • Classical Male and Female
    Unknown
    sculpture
    This bronzed metal statue with a male and female figure was made by an unknown artist, c. 1870. The figures are dressed in classical attire with the male leaning on an ivy-covered pedestal. The woman has her back to the man, but he has one hand on her shoulder while holding her other hand lightly.
  • Classical Male Figure
    Unknown
    sculpture
    This classical statue is after the antique Narcissus and was created by an unknown artist around 1870. The young male is perhaps the legendary Narcissus of Greek mythology as he stares downward at his reflection in an unseen pool of water. In the early to mid 19th century, establishment of a republican government in the U.S. patterned on Greek and Roman principles helped spur a revival of interest in classical forms and ideas in the fine arts.
  • Diane De Gabies
    Unknown
    sculpture
    This bronze statute in the style of the Roman Imperial period was created by an unknown artist after the ancient statue of Diane de Gabies by famous Greek sculptor Praxiteles. The statue likely represents Artemis, the Greek goddess of Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon, and Archery. In the early to mid 19th century, establishment of a republican government in the U.S. patterned on Greek and Roman principles helped spur a revival of interest in classical forms and ideas in the fine arts.
  • Female with Cupid
    Unknown
    sculpture
    This bronze statue of a woman was created by an unknown artist around 1870. Resting on her shoulder is a cherub, possibly the god Cupid of classical mythology. Cupid was the son of Venus and Mars. In the early to mid 19th century, establishment of a republican government in the U.S. patterned on Greek and Roman principles helped spur a revival of interest in classical forms and ideas in the fine arts.
  • Hadrian's Tomb (castel Sant' Angelo), Rome
    Unknown
    Italy
    mosaics
    This mosaic of Hadrian's Tomb at the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy was done by an unknown artist in the late 19th century. Hadrian was a Roman emperor and his tomb was completed around 139 AD. In the mosaic, a man labors laying or hauling stone while others leisurely fish and boat. The Emperor's tomb is off to the right, in the distance.