CNN —The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in Washington, DC, has acquired the earliest known photograph of a US First Lady.
The quarter-plate daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of fourth US president James Madison, dates from around 1846.
The Dolley Madison daguerreotype, made by artist and entrepreneur John Plumbe Jr., shows the trailblazing First Lady when she was in her late seventies.
In addition to his portrait of Madison, he created the earliest extant image of the US Capitol.
Courtesy Sotheby'sThe NPG bought the Madison photograph for $456,000 at a Sotheby’s auction of books, manuscripts and Americana on June 28, more than six times the lot’s high estimate of $70,000.
Persons:
Dolley Madison, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, Philip Haas, Madison daguerreotype, John Plumbe Jr, Madison, Lonnie G, Joseph L, Emily K, ” Bunch, Dolley Payne Todd Madison, Lady, soirees, Zachary Taylor, ”, Louis Daguerre
Organizations:
The Art, CNN, Capitol, Plumbe, Madison, Smithsonian, Gidwitz, Foundation Endowment, US
Locations:
Washington ,, America, United States, Philadelphia, Washington, Madison