James L. Edwards
c. 1881
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; transfer from the National Archives
Accession Number
S/NPG.65.27
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the poised portrait drawing of *James L. Edwards* by L. Wieser, created around 1881. This intimate work captures Edwards, a distinguished male figure of the era, adorned with a crisp bowtie and signature muttonchops— hair emblematic of late 19-century American gentlemen. Rendered in drawing medium, Wieser's piece exemplifies the precise, observational style of period illustrators, likely employing pencil or ink to convey character and status with economical lines. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection (transferred from the National Archives via the National Portrai...