Thomas Jefferson

Art Historical Context

This print portrait of Thomas Jefferson, created around 1800 by engr Cornelius Tiebout, the Founding Father during a pivotal moment in his career. Jefferson had recently served as Vice President and was elected the third President of the United States that same year. Tiebout, active from the late eighteenth into the early nineteenth century, specialized in reproductive prints that brought notable figures to a broader audience. As a print rather than a unique painting, this work reflects the democratic ideals of the early republic by making Jefferson’s likeness widely available through newspapers, books, and private collections. The image emphasizes his many roles—lawyer, architect, inventor, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and statesman—underscoring his influence on American governance, education, and culture. Housed in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the engraving serves as both a historical document and a testament to the power of printmaking in shaping public memory of the nation’s leaders.