James Buchanan shown from waist up, sitting in red upholstered chair. Wearing black suit, white shirt and white bow tie, high collar. Eyes looking right and body turned to left. Right hands holds document-may be the constitution. See notes for letter rem
Provenance
William McMaster
To - Mrs. C.E. McMaster (wife of)
To - Edward Y. Buchanan (1/1892)
To - Mrs. Eric DelSpoelberch (great-granddaughter of E. Buchanan)
Painting is very dirty; requires cleaning 05/31/2023
Gesso & wood frame is damaged in several areas requires conservation.
Object ID
W.1945.001.001
Notes
The following original letter is in the accession folder. Letter from back of Painting: ' Phila. Jan. 1892 - This is the original portrait of James Buchanan painted by Wm. E. MacMaster of New York in July 1856, by personal sittings given him during his stay at Wheatland.
Left earlobe has broken off. Base is chipped. Various smudge marks all over.
Object ID
W.1960.006.001
Notes
James Buchanan Henry inherited this bust when his Uncle James Buchanan died; his cousin, Harriet Lane Johnston inherited the matching bust, which she later donated to the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
James Buchanan Henry bequeathed this bust to his son, Frank Anderson Henry, who donated it to the James Buchanan Foundation in 1960.
An oil on canvas portrait of Dr. Alexander Speer (1790-1854) by artist, Antoine Gibert. Dr. Speer was a first cousin to James Buchanan on his mother's side of the family. Dr. Speer is turned facing one-quarter turn to his right and is wearing a black suit coat and vest with a white shirt, turned down collar and a black cravat. The portrait is framed in a French reverse cove gilded frame with a raised foliate motif
Black, grey and white chalk drawing on white medium. Image of James Buchanan's upper body, facing slightly to his right wearing dark suit, white shirt and stock collar with a white cravat. Buchanan's hair is dark with gray mixing in with his darker color. The image's matt is a cream color, Frame is gilded with bevelled and curved edge, gesso layer under paint.
Cut paper picture. Oval center with bust of Buchanan 'This calligraphic likeness is composed of the telegraphic messages of Queen Victoria and President Buchanan' written around bust with 'James Buchanan' underneath. Picture is mostly punched-out paper
Engraving of James Buchanan. Tinted engraving. James Buchanan stands 3/4 front to his left at center of picture dressed in a black suit with white tie. James Buchanan has left hand resting on upright brown book on table to his left. Table has round top with green baize cloth.
J. C. Buttre, 48 Franklin St., New York, New York.
Black and white print of James Buchanan. Background is half wall with two pillars above, swag of drapery. Floor has alternating pattern of scrollwork and flowers. Ornate oval-back armchair with fringe at arms and eagle worked into upholstery on back, jus
Engraving of James Buchanan. Simple rounded front rectangular frame. Print is on paper showing bust of James Buchanan in white tie, high collar, dark suit, lighter vest. James Buchanan's signature at bottom with 'President of the United States' below.
James Buchanan, Fifteenth President of the United States
Description
Framed Currier print of James Buchanan. Buchanan sits at center, face diagonally to the left. He wears a white button-up shirt with high collar and white bow tie under chin. Black vest with four buttons all buttoned. Black jacket with lapels, two buttons
Color lithograph of Empress Eugenie. The lithograph was created from an original painting by F. Winterhalter. The Empress is standing on a platform, her body facing left, head turned front, her right hand raised over a jewelled crown that sits atop of a gold trimmed brown pillow on a red and gold trimmed table; a gold embroidered arm chair is behind her. The Empress is wearing a a long pearl necklace over her white double flounced evening gown trimmed in lace and enhanced by a green bustle as well as a blue and white sash. She wears a jeweled bracelet on both arms, a pearl tiara with a small pearl crown atop her chignon veil.
Oblong shaped walnut veneered container with a back-hinged lid, beveled shape raised central flat area carved with egg-bead molding. Brass 8-point star bail handles are on each end; one handle missing. Brass round keyhole escutcheon is centered on the top front façade of the box with egg & bead molding around the base surmounting four flat-bun shaped feet. Interior features two boxes with back hinged lids as storage compartments for tea leaves. In the center is a circular aperture lined with felt holding a star cut glass mixing bowl to blend tea leaves.
American Rococo Revival Walnut Sofa. The serpentine back centered by a rose and shell scrolled carved crest, the back joined to closed arms, with a serpentine apron and raised on cabriole legs terminating in casters, silk velvet upholstery.
Bookcase composed of two sections. Cabinet with glass doors at top and cabinet with wooden doors at bottom. Two glass doors have square mullions holding the panes. Doors give access to moveable shelves inside. Two doors at bottom of each have simple rectangular recessed panels.
Thomas Potter - 2nd owner of Wheatland
Sold to William Morris Meredith 3rd owner of Wheatland
Sold to James Buchanan 4th owner of Wheatland
Inherited by Harriet Lane Johnston 5th owner of Wheatland
Bequeathed to John Newton Lane, Harriet Lane Johnston's nephew
Bequeathed to Mrs. Patty Lane Fay daughter of John N. Lane
Bookcases sold to Meredith in 1845 by Potter then Meredith sold them to James Buchanan in 1848. Letter dated 9/27/1848 to Buchanan from Meredith: 'In addition to the $6750 which you mention, I paid Mr. Potter for the bookcases in the library, I think $75.00.'
Page 192 of "Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion" from 1854. Includes an article on James Buchanan with images of him as Minister to England and of Wheatland. Also includes musings on "What is the hardest mode to die?"
Bookcase composed of two sections. The upper cabinet has two hinged doors that latch at center. The shelving is adjustable and both doors feature 12 oblong-shaped glass panes and mullions. The lower cabinet has two hinged wood doors that latch and lock at the center; each door features a square recessed panel.
Provenance
Thomas Potter
To - William Morris Meredith
To - James Buchanan
To - Harriet Lane Johnston
To - John Newton Lane
To - James Buchanan Lane II
To - Thomasina Thomas Lane
To - James Buchanan Foundation
Thomas Potter - 2nd owner of Wheatland
Sold to - William Morris Meredith for $75
Sold to - James Buchanan for $75
Bequeathed to - Harriet Lane Johnston
Bequeathed to - John Newton Lane, Harriet's nephew
Bequeathed to - James Buchanan Lane II, John N. Lane's son
Bequeathed to - Thomasina Thomas Lane, James B. Lane II's spouse
Cherry writing desk, front of the desk, 4.25" below the top, has piano hinges that allow the top to converts to a writing surface covered with green felt. When closed, the piece serves as a chest with four progressively larger drawers. Both sides have recessed panels and the chest is supported by four vase and ring-turned legs.
Easgles Nest completed conservation on the image and frame.
Height (cm)
36.195
Height (ft)
1.1875
Height (in)
14.25
Length (cm)
6.985
Length (ft)
0.2291666667
Length (in)
2.75
Width (cm)
41.275
Width (ft)
1.3541666667
Width (in)
16.25
Dimension Details
Dimensions are for frame
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-07-21
Object ID
W.1995.015.001
Notes
Based on the pointed waistline of her bodice, this photograph was likely taken in Washington DC while she was the First Lady and before the year 1860. This style was at the height of fashion in the mid-1850s and quickly disappeared in the year 1860, when the straight waistline came into fashion.
Jacquard woven blanket formed by two layers of intersecting dyed and undyed fabric. It was manufactured, not hand woven, due to the size of the loom required and complexity of punching the cards to form the pattern. Blue base with undyed wool forming a floral design.with starburst and diamond alternating patterns in between. Green fabric tape found on edges. Design is reversed in color on opposite side. Center design is cluster of four rose plants. Border is a foliate vine with blossoms.
Supposedly owned by Harriet Lane when she attended Georgetown Visitation Convent. Unknown how it came to be in donor's possession. Donor's son and daughter-in-law posited that perhaps Charlotte A. Bauer (donor) received it from Mrs. Cynthia Westover Alden, who was a cousin by marriage to John Alden. Mrs. Cynthia W. Alden had many connections in the 1880s and may have received the blanket from Harriet Lane Johnston.
An oyster shell-shaped serving dish. Made from a hard-paste porcelain china manufactured at the Sèvres factory in France. Decorated and sold by Haviland, the decor consists of maroon and gilt boarders on a white background, gilt rings and highlights.
Provenance
Johnston, Harriet Lane
To - cousin, Riddle, Katherine W.
To - sister, Riddle, Anna S.
To - cousins, Coe, Sara W. & Coe, W. Travers To - Murphy, Elsie B. of Charles Town, W. VA. To - Governor's Mansion Virginia by Ms. Murphy's sister, Fletcher, Mrs. Robert.
