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Primary sourcePainting1807

Thomas Jefferson Etching by John Kay, 1807

Gilbert Stuart · 1807

An 1807 etching portrait of Thomas Jefferson made during his presidency, possibly after a painting by Gilbert Stuart.

Made during Jefferson's presidency, this etching documents how he was depicted while in office.

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Engraved print of a man with white powdered hair in an oval frame, wearing a dark coat and cravat, set against horizontal line hatching. Below: 'Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America', number 239, and 'J. Kay 1801' signature.
J. Kay, Thomas Jefferson, etching, 1807, after Gilbert Stuart (attribution uncertain). Wellcome Collection, London.

About this source

What it is

This is an etched print of Thomas Jefferson dated 1807, while he was serving as President of the United States. It is attributed to the artist J. Kay and may be based on a portrait by Gilbert Stuart, though this attribution is uncertain. The print is held by the Wellcome Collection in London.

Why it matters

Made while Jefferson was alive and in office, this etching is a primary source for how he was visually presented to the public during his presidency. Uncertainty over who really made it reminds students that not all historical attributions are solid.

Look closer

  • Why might the artist's identity for this print be uncertain, and why does that matter for historians?
  • What does the formal, oval-framed style suggest about how presidents wanted to be seen?
  • How does this image compare with other portraits of Jefferson made around the same time?

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

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