Miniature portrait of Hiram B. Swarr by J. Henry Brown. Oval image of Swarr is surrounded by a red velvet oval contained in a rectangular gold-colored plaster frame. Portrait is held into place by two pins. Portrait is of a man in a white shirt and black coat, with bow tie; curly brown hair, beard with no moustache; eyeglasses. Part of a set with 2021.029.002 (Frances O. Swarr). typed label on back identifies subject and artist. Framed by Wunderly Brothers, Pittsburgh.
John Henry Brown's career began in Philadelphia in 1845, where he painted most of his sitters. Brown often preferred to take daguerreotypes of his sitters and use those as guides for his miniatures, rather than having the person sit for him. He claimed it was easier to work from a small image than from a life-size model. (Smithsonian)
Provenance
Part of a collection of 109 letters, documents and 3 clippings saved by Hiram B. Swarr, Attorney & Co-Executor for the estate of James Buchanan.
