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Rufus King

William Satchwell Leney, 16 Jan 1769 - 26 Nov 1831

1816

Rufus King by William Satchwell Leney, 16 Jan 1769 - 26 Nov 1831

Medium

Print

Classification

Print

Department

Smithsonian Collection

Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Credit

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Accession Number

S/NPG.77.136.2.d

Tags

PortraitLawyerRufus King: MaleMinisterNew YorkNew YorkSigner of ConstitutionVice-Presidential Candidate

Art Historical Context

Behold William Satchwell Leney's 1816 print portrait of Rufus King, a striking engraving from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection. Leney, a skilled engraver active in the early American Republic (1769–1831), captures the dignified likeness of this Founding Father, emphasizing King's poised expression and formal attire. As a print medium, this work exemplifies the era's reproductive art, allowing wide dissemination of elite portraits through affordable engravings—crucial for shaping public images of leaders before photography. Rufus King, a New York lawyer, diplomat, and signer of...

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