Thomas Davis

About this artwork

James Alexander Simpson taught art classes at Georgetown College and painted portraits of the Washington elite. He captured the slightly disdainful lift of this gentleman’s brows and the confident, Napoleonic gesture of his right hand, tucked casually in his vest.

Art Historical Context

James Alexander Simpson, who taught art at Georgetown College, specialized in portraits of Washington’s elite during the early nineteenth century. Painted around 1815, this waist-length portrait captures Thomas Davis with a slightly raised brow and a confident hand tucked into his vest—a gesture often associated with Napoleonic portraits and popular among American sitters of the period. The work reflects the era’s interest in conveying personal authority and refinement through formal likenesses. As a painting in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, the piece offers insight into the social and cultural aspirations of the young republic. Simpson’s attention to expression and pose highlights both the individuality of the sitter and the conventions of early American portraiture. Gifted to the museum by Mrs. Allen Little, the work continues to illuminate the networks of patronage and artistic practice in the nation’s capital.