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Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren
Artist
Mathew B. Brady, 1823? - 15 Jan 1896
Sitter
Martin Van Buren, 5 Dec 1782 - 24 Jul 1862
Date
c. 1852
Type
Photograph
Medium
Half-plate daguerreotype
Dimensions
Image/Sight: 12.2 × 9 cm (4 13/16 × 3 9/16")
Mat (brass): 14.1 × 11 cm (5 9/16 × 4 5/16")
Case open: 15.5 × 24.8 × 1.3 cm (6 1/8 × 9 3/4 × 1/2")
Case closed: 15.5 × 12.2 × 1.9 cm (6 1/8 × 4 13/16 × 3/4")
Topic
Interior
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Bowtie
Cased object
Martin Van Buren: Male
Martin Van Buren: Politics and Government\US Senator\New York
Martin Van Buren: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Martin Van Buren: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US
Martin Van Buren: Politics and Government\Governor\New York
Martin Van Buren: Politics and Government\President of US
Martin Van Buren: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State
Martin Van Buren: Politics and Government\State Senator\New York
Martin Van Buren: Politics and Government\State Attorney General\New York
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.76.104
Exhibition Label
Born Kinderhook, New York
Known as “the Little Magician” for his skill in adroitly navigating the political landscape, Martin Van Buren rose to prominence through a series of elective offices in New York State. After serving as vice president during Andrew Jackson’s second term (1833–37), he was elected president in 1836.
By one account, Van Buren kept his portrait appointment with Brady even though a terrible storm was raging. When Brady asked the former president why he had braved such weather to come to the gallery, Van Buren declared that he never broke an engagement if it were at all possible to keep it.
Nacido en Kinderhook, New York
Conocido como “el Pequeño Mago” por su gran habilidad para navegar el mar de la política, Martin Van Buren fue alcanzando prominencia a través de una serie de puestos electivos en el estado de New York. Luego de servir como vicepresidente en el segundo término de Andrew Jackson (1833–37), fue elegido presidente en 1836.
Dice un relato que Van Buren honró su cita con Brady para hacerse un retrato incluso en medio de una tormenta horrible. Al preguntar Brady al entonces expresidente por qué había desafiado un tiempo tan malo para llegar a la galería, Van Buren contestó que nunca cancelaba un compromiso si existía la menor posibilidad de honrarlo.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view