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Primary sourcePainting23 February 1848

Sketch of John Quincy Adams Lying Unconscious in the Capitol Rotunda

Arthur J. Stansbury · 23 February 1848

An eyewitness pencil sketch of John Quincy Adams dying after his stroke in the Capitol Rotunda, drawn the day he died.

This sketch shows Adams himself, drawn by an eyewitness on the day he died in the Capitol.

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Pencil sketch in grayscale of an elderly bald man with side-swept hair lying on a pillow, head turned in profile to the right, eyes closed. Drapery and pillow folds are lightly drawn around him.
Arthur J. Stansbury, sketch of John Quincy Adams dying in the Capitol Rotunda, 23 February 1848.

About this source

What it is

This is a pencil sketch made by Arthur J. Stansbury on 23 February 1848, showing John Quincy Adams lying unconscious in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington after suffering a stroke.

Why it matters

Adams collapsed at the Capitol and this sketch was made that same day, making it a rare firsthand image of his final hours. It captures a moment when the former president, still serving in Congress, was witnessed dying by someone present at the scene.

Look closer

  • What details in the drawing suggest it was made quickly, from life, rather than planned in advance?
  • Why might someone choose to sketch a dying public figure rather than simply write about the event?
  • What does this image not show about Adams's life and career?

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

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