Zachary Taylor bust by Clark Mills

What it is

This is a plaster bust of Zachary Taylor by the sculptor Clark Mills. The image shows a grey-white head and shoulders of a balding man with a stern expression, with a draped garment over his shoulders like a toga. A small label is visible on the pedestal base. The record does not say when the bust was made or where the original now stands.

Why it matters

Portrait busts were a common way to honor public figures, and they shaped how people later pictured a president. Because this bust was made by a sculptor rather than by Taylor himself, it shows how Mills and his patrons wanted Taylor to be remembered. Students can compare it with photographs and paintings of Taylor to see what each form emphasizes.

Look closer

• What expression and posture does the sculptor give Taylor, and what message might that send?
• Why might the sculptor have chosen a toga-like garment for a modern president?
• What information about this bust is missing from the record, such as its date and original location?