American School, 19th century portrait painting of President Andrew Jackson. Three quarter view, bust length portrait of the 7th President of the United States after the daguerreotype portrait attributed to Anthony Edwards, taken shortly before his death in 1845. Jackson is depicted wearing a dark suit and tie with white shirt. Possibly oil on paper, laid down on canvas. Spurious signature and date "G C BINGHAM 1840" near subject's upper right shoulder. Housed in a mid-19th century lemon gilt molded wood frame. Stamp en verso of frame for previous exhibition at the Tennessee Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood (Nashville, TN), paper label on stretcher for McCaughen & Burr Fine Arts and Picture Framing, 1010 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO. Sight - 17 1/2" H x 13 1/4" W. Framed - 25" H x 21" W. Provenance: the estate of Stanley Horn, Nashville, Tennessee, by descent to consignor. In 1845, less than two months before Jackson's death, New York photographer Edward T. Anthony visited the Hermitage to photograph the ailing president (source: The Tennessean newspaper, April 16, 1845). This portrait appears to be a posthumous portrait based on Anthony's daguerreotype, with artistic liberties taken to make Jackson look slightly younger, and a retrospective date assigned. 1840 was an important year for Jackson, as it marked the Silver Jubilee of his victory at the Battle of New Orleans, celebrated by a return trip to the city for a series of ceremonial events. While George Caleb Bingham (American/Missouri, 1811-1879) is known to have painted a full length portrait of Jackson (after Thomas Sully) in 1860, no confirmed account of him painting the president in 1840 in New Orleans or anywhere else has been found, and the signature and date exhibit some fluorescence, suggesting possible later addition. Please note the Riverbank Foundation has declined to add this painting to their update of the George Caleb Bingham catalog raisonne. In our opinion, this painting is likely instead the work of a lesser known 19th century artist seeking to meet increased demand for likenesses of President Jackson following his death or near the 100th anniversary of his birthday. Stanley Horn (1889-1982) was a Nashville, Tennessee historican and author of books including THE HERMITAGE: HOME OF OLD HICKORY. His collection of Andrew Jackson papers was gifted to the Tennessee State Library and Archives upon his death. An interesting transcription of an interview with Horn can be found here: https://foresthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/HornOHI.pdf

Painting has had significant restoration including relining, overpainting, and revarnishing. Ultraviolet light reveals two fluorescent areas under 1/2" located on subject's right eyebrow and lower forehead area, and a small spot on subject's right eyeball, along with two small areas, each under 1", at his lower right chin and collar. Frame: Scattered abrasions and small losses, 5" area of repair to upper right side. A few small areas of re-gilding at edges.