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Portrait of Martin Van Buren by John Vanderlyn

John Vanderlyn · Unknown date

A graphite and watercolor portrait of Martin Van Buren by American artist John Vanderlyn, held at Yale University Art Gallery.

This portrait depicts Van Buren as an older man, likely showing him during or after his presidency.

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Pencil and watercolor portrait of a seated older man with white hair, wearing a grey double-breasted coat, dark bow tie and white collar, against a pale grey background. A chair arm is visible at his left side. The initials 'JV' appear at lower right and an inscription at lower left.
John Vanderlyn, Portrait of Martin Van Buren, undated. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut.

About this source

What it is

This is a small graphite and watercolor portrait of Martin Van Buren made by the American artist John Vanderlyn. It is kept in the Yale University Art Gallery as part of the John Hill Morgan Collection.

Why it matters

The drawing shows Van Buren as an older man, likely made later in his life or presidency. Such intimate studies, done in pencil and watercolor rather than large oil, offer a different kind of record than formal state portraits, closer to a sketch made from direct observation.

Look closer

  • How does this quieter, smaller image compare to grander painted portraits of presidents?
  • What details in his clothing or expression stand out to you?
  • Why might an artist choose this simple medium instead of oil paint?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Van Buren on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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