Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes Standing, with Separate Left Hand Study
December 18, 1880
Classification
portraits
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1938-57-1053
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Daniel Huntington, a prominent American portraitist (1816–1906), captured Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes—better known as Lucy Hayes, First Lady during her husband’s presidency from 1877 to 1881—in this standing portrait dated December 18, 1880. Created at the tail end of the Hayes administration, the work reflects the era’s fascination with presidential families, immortalizing Lucy as a poised figure of Victorian elegance. Huntington, known for his realistic depictions of American elites and his leadership in the National Academy of Design, often blended classical influences with a keen eye for char...