Peter De Vaux

About this artwork

On the back of this locket are inscribed the words: “Peter De Vaux---Ancestor of Theodore Roosevelt.” The president’s forebears included James De Veaux (1710-1785) and Andre De Veaux (died1754), and this gentleman may have been a relation of theirs. In this miniature he is shown wearing a high neckband with a frilly extension known as a jabot.

Art Historical Context

Henry Benbridge, an 18th-century American portrait active in the colonial era, crafted this exquisite miniature painting titled *Peter De Vaux*.ed as a bust-length portrait, it captures the sitter in formal attire, including a high neckband adorned with a frilly jabot—a lacy extension popular among gentlemen of the period, evoking the elegance of 18th-century fashion. Miniatures like this were intimate treasures, often housed in lockets for personal wear, blending technical precision with emotional connection. The artwork's back bears a poignant inscription: “Peter De Vaux—Ancestor of Theodore Roosevelt.” This links the subject to the Roosevelt family lineage, potentially relating him to forebears like James De Veaux (1710-1785) or Andre De Veaux (died 1754), early American figures of Dutch and Huguenot descent. Such portraits preserved family heritage amid the young nation's growth, highlighting social status and lineage. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum through an anonymous gift, this piece exemplifies Benbridge's skill in watercolor on ivory—a demanding medium requiring fine brushwork for lifelike detail. It offers visitors a window into colonial portraiture's role in immortalizing personal stories.

About the Artist

Henry Benbridge · 1743–1812

**Henry Benbridge** (October 1743 – February 1812) was an American portrait painter born in Philadelphia as the only child of James and Mary (Clark) Benbridge. After his father’s death, his mother remarried wealthy Scottish merchant Thomas Gordon when Benbridge was seven; the family encouraged his artistic talents, and he may have received early instruction from English painter John Wollaston. At ...