Primary sourcePainting

President Franklin Pierce

George Peter Alexander Healy

A portrait of President Franklin Pierce painted by George Peter Alexander Healy, held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

A formal painted likeness of Pierce made for official display, useful for studying his public image.

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Black and white reproduction of a painted portrait of a man with dark, tousled hair, wearing a dark jacket, white shirt, and dark bow tie, seated in a chair against a dark background, gazing toward the viewer. — George Peter Alexander Healy, President Franklin Pierce. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

About this source

What it is

This is a painted portrait of Franklin Pierce by the artist George Peter Alexander Healy. It is held today at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Why it matters

Healy painted many official portraits of American presidents, and this is one of more than one he made of Pierce. Comparing different official portraits of a president shows how artists shaped the public image of political leaders in the 19th century.

Look closer

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

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Oil portrait of a man with wavy dark hair, wearing a dark coat, white shirt and dark cravat, seated in a red upholstered chair against a dark background, with his hands clasped at the lower left.

Painting

Primary source

Franklin Pierce

George Peter Alexander Healy · 1853

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