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John Marshall

John Marshall
Artist
Cephas Thompson, 1 Jul 1775 - 6 Nov 1856
Sitter
John Marshall, 24 Sep 1755 - 6 Jul 1835
Date
1809-10
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 61.3 x 52.4cm (24 1/8 x 20 5/8")
Frame: 73.5 x 64.6 x 6.4cm (28 15/16 x 25 7/16 x 2 1/2")
Topic
John Marshall: Male
John Marshall: Law and Crime\Lawyer
John Marshall: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State
John Marshall: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice\Chief Justice of US
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.2010.48
Exhibition Label
Born Prince William (now Fauquier) County, Virginia
John Marshall, the fourth chief justice of the United States, strengthened the idea of an independent federal judiciary. Additionally, he established the concept of judicial review, in which the Supreme Court could pronounce a law of Congress as unconstitutional.
In cases brought to the Court between 1810 and 1824—years in which the Marshall Court enjoyed great stability and harmony—Marshall used the Court’s judicial review to nullify state laws violating constitutional restraints of state power. The effect of Marshall’s long tenure as chief justice (1801–35) was to strengthen the Court, the Constitution, and the federal government. The Court became a preeminent interpreter of the Constitution, and the federal government’s enumerated powers were given a broad interpretation, making it superior to those of the states.
Cephas Thompson painted a portrait of Marshall from life in Richmond, Virginia, as well as six replicas for admirers.
Nacido en Prince William (hoy Fauquier) County, Virginia
John Marshall, cuarto juez presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Estados Unidos, reforzó la idea de un sistema judicial independiente. Estableció también el concepto de la revisión judicial, según el cual el Tribunal Supremo puede declarar inconstitucional una ley aprobada por el Congreso.
En casos vistos por el Tribunal entre 1810 y 1824 (años de gran estabilidad y armonía en dicho cuerpo), Marshall empleó la revisión judicial para anular leyes estatales que violaban las restricciones constitucionales del poder de los estados. Su largo término como juez presidente (1801–35) tuvo el efecto de fortalecer el Tribunal, la Constitución y el gobierno federal. El Tribunal Supremo se convirtió en intérprete preeminente de la Constitución, y su amplia interpretación de los poderes explícitos del gobierno federal les dio primacía sobre los estatales.
Cephas Thompson pintó del natural un retrato de Marshall en Richmond, Virginia, además de seis copias para admiradores.
Provenance
O.P. and M. J. Van Sweringen, Daisy Hill Farm, Hunting Valley, Ohio; sold by (Parke-Bernet Galleries) at the Sweringen residence, 27 October 1938, lot 824; Thomas Jones, Cleveland, Ohio; his son Brooks Jones; Mrs. Brooks Jones; (Corcoran Fine Arts, Cleveland); purchased 2010 NPG
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Exhibition
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View
NPG, East Gallery 132