The exhibit “Every Eye is Upon Me” is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery, and will remain on exhibit through May 23. Senior historian, Gwendolyn Du Bois Shaw, curated the exhibit and the accompanying book of portraits. This temporary exhibit precedes a permanent display of the first ladies’ portraits that will accompany the American Presidents exhibit.
Shaw’s book serves as a handbook to the exhibit, looking at the portraits while providing short biographies of each first lady or woman, daughter, daughter-in-law, niece or sister who acted as the President’s hostess in the White House. I found it interesting that there is not one verifiable painting of Mary Todd Lincoln. However, photography was just becoming popular, and there are photographs by Matthew Brady. In fact, there’s nothing here that says the portraits have to be paintings, although that’s what I was expecting.
For such a small book, Shaw does an excellent job bringing each woman into focus. Some were involved in statecraft. It wasn’t just our most recent first ladies who attended political meetings. Sarah Childress Polk met with her husband’s political allies, wrote his speeches, and attended cabinet meetings. Some of the women had their own political agendas. Our most recent first ladies championed social causes.
There were biographies with each portrait, and sometimes a little information about the artist. Shaw does not shy away from controversial subjects such as slavery or support for the Confederacy. However, she always puts the subjects into context, the history or the history of the subject’s family. It was interesting to see how many of the women had influential roles even before the White House. Here’s a story I didn’t know. Abigail Powers Fillmore was a young schoolteacher who taught her nineteen-year-old student, Millard Fillmore, to read. Later, the couple established a reference library in the White House.
I’ll admit, while I examined and admired all of the portraits, I’m a sucker for the historical tidbits, such as the one about the Fillmores. It has been too many years since I was at the National Portrait Gallery. Someday, I’d like to return and see the permanent exhibit that is the basis for this book.
First Ladies of the United States/National Portrait Gallery. Smithsonian Books, 2020. ISBN 9781588346940 (paperback), 180p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of the book.
This sounds very interesting.
Mary Todd Lincoln continues to be a controversial figure over a century after her death.
It was interesting. I really enjoyed the book, Glen, and I’m sharing it with my youngest sister the next time I see her.
We saw that exhibit! Every time we go to Washington, one of Jackie’s must-see sights is the First Lady’s Gowns exhibit at the Smithsonian, so of course she had to see the portrait exhibit. It was really interesting. For me, the lesser known ones are the most interesting. I bet Jackie would be interested in the book.
I agree, Jeff. I haven’t seen it, but I found some of the women such as Abigail Fillmore to be fascinating. I enjoyed some of those lesser known stories.
This sounds really interesting! I’ve always found it fascinating that some of the earlier presidents had a female other than a wife who was the first lady. I would enjoy the historical tidbits as well.
One of the wives was just so worn out from child-bearing, Gretchen, that she just sent a daughter instead. I love all the historical tidbits, just like I love rabbit holes when I’m reading. I enjoy all the little side bits of information.