Black and white engraving of James Buchanan based on J. Eicholtz painting. Bust view of Buchanan in oval. Buchanan wears a black jacket and vest, and a white shirt and bow tie. 'James Buchanan'
Color print of Wheatland farm showing house surrounded by trees, fronted by two circular driveways, white fence, small spring at lower right corner. At back line of trees is a fence; back right is a white stable, two horses, and cow. To left, orchard. Black and white medallion of James Buchanan at top of print, taken from William McMaster's portrait of James Buchanan.
Color lithograph of Wheatland and grounds with seated Buchanan. Below: "Wheatland/the Country Residence of the Hon. James Buchanan, situated neat the City of Lancaster, Penn." "Drawn by J. F. Reigart...entered recording to Act of Congress in the year 1856 by J. F. Reigart, in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania." Lith. L.N. Rosenthal cor. 5th & Chestnut, Phila.
J. F. Reigart, lithographer. Published by Edwin Clark.
Provenance
Information in object file states that the conservation and reframing of the piece was done by Lancaster Galleries in 2005. The cost was underwritten by Mrs. Dorothy B. Reynolds in memory of George K. Reynolds, Jr.
Very large oil on canvas, life-size portrait of Simon Cameron (1799 – 1889) sitting in an armchair in his library, turned partway to the right. Dressed in black coat, trousers and sash around neck. Left arm rests on writing table and paper with writing is hanging over the edge, secured by Cameron's left hand. No. 42, No. 56 stamped on stretcher strip.
NOTE; DOUBLE NUMBERED - 2016.999.7.
The words are difficult to read, but reportedly express Cameron's wish for the creation of a "slave army," as written in his first report to Congress in 1861. Lincoln was angry, since it was his decision to make and not Cameron's. Lincoln expunged the statement from the report and demanded that already printed copies be retrieved. See NOTES
Provenance
For several weeks before the presentation to Cameron, the portrait was in an exhibition in the Academy of Fine Arts.
Although the donors expressed their wish that the portrait be passed to the Cameron children and grandchildren, it somehow ended up with George W. Hicks, apparently a friend and/or neighbor of Cameron. He was a noted educator and long-time justice of the peace of E. Donegal Twp. Hicks died at his Maytown home in May of 1904. At some point, Mrs. Geo. Hicks donated the painting to LCHS. It is obvious that the Hicks admired Cameron since they named their son Charles Cameron Hicks (1883-1961).
H: 72 inches x W: 58 inches. Gilding w/ corners lavishly decorated w/ composition flowers, scrolls and leafage.
Object Name
Painting
Material
Paint, Canvas, Wood
Medium
Painting, Oil
Height (in)
56
Width (in)
42
Dimension Details
Frame is: 72" x 58"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2016-11-07
Condition Notes
Minor blemishes across surface; canvas is not stretched adequately. Frame has significant losses, particularly at corners.
Object ID
1930.015
Notes
On Wed., July 19th, 1865, Cameron was presented with his portrait at his home on Front St. in Harrisburg by representatives of the Union State Central Committee from Philadelphia. During the ceremony, James N. Kerns "addressed General Cameron in behalf of the committee charged with presentation of the portrait. "He said that the Union men of Philadelphia, having a high appreciation of his worth as a citizen of Pennsylvania , and desiring to bear testimony to his services in assisting to carry the old Keystone State on the side of the Union, in the great political contest at the ballot-box in 1964, had caused this portrait to be painted by one of the best artists in the country, and charged the committee now present to present it to Simon Cameron..."
-- From an article in the Harrisburg Telegraph, July 22, 1865. (copy in file)
Lithograoh Rev'd John C. Baker, Pastor of Ev. Luth. Church of the Holy Trinity, Lancaster, Pa. (from a Daguerrotype by Johnson) on stone by nersom. Published by Spangler & Brother, Lancaster (notes on back of print )
