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Secondary sourcePainting2014-06-19

William Henry Harrison engraved portrait, Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Bureau of Engraving and Printing · 2014-06-19

A modern engraved oval portrait of Harrison made by the federal printing bureau. It is a later depiction, not an image from his lifetime.

Shows how Harrison is depicted in modern official printing, a later image rather than one from his time.

Ask William Henry Harrison about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Black-and-white engraved oval portrait of a man with wavy hair, dark high-collared coat and white cravat, in an ornate decorative frame. Caption below reads William H. Harrison, with small text Bureau Engraving & Printing.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, William H. Harrison, engraved portrait, 2014.

About this source

What it is

This is a black-and-white engraved oval portrait of Harrison, showing a man with wavy hair in a dark high-collared coat and white cravat. It sits in an ornate decorative frame. The caption reads 'William H. Harrison,' with small text 'Bureau Engraving & Printing.' The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a federal printing office, made it in modern times.

Why it matters

Harrison's face is often shown in later portraits used on money, stamps, and official publications. This engraving is a modern depiction, so it shows how the federal government presents a past president today, not how voters saw him in 1840. Comparing it with earlier prints helps students see how an image can change its meaning over time.

Look closer

  • What is the difference between an image made in Harrison's lifetime and one made long after?
  • Why might a government printer choose an ornate frame for a president?
  • What does this portrait tell us about the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and what does it not tell us about Harrison?

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

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William Henry Harrison

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