Artheon LogoArtheon

Peter De Vaux

Henry Benbridge
Peter De Vaux by Henry Benbridge

Medium

Painting-Miniature

Classification

Painting-Miniature

Department

Smithsonian Collection

Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Credit

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor

Accession Number

1975.77.1

Tags

bust

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 Theodor...

    Send Feedback