Marquis de Lafayette

c. 1825
Painted by James Alexander Simpson
Oil on Canvas

In this portrait, the Marquis de Lafayette is pictured on a rocky hillside in front of a colorful, cloudy sky. The colors used in the portrait are typical of early 19th century paintings, particularly those by leaders of the style such as Benjamin West. The dark greens and browns in the foreground speak to the grounding effect of nature, while the vibrant blue and pastel pink in the sky highlight the expansiveness of the American countryside.  

Lafayette wears a suit with a high-collared shirt and stylish white cravat under a long brown coat. He holds a top hat and a cane in his right hand, while his left hand rests near his coat pocket. Lafayette’s pose is elegant and triumphant, and though his face is idealized, it shows signs of age. This is fitting, as this portrait was created later in the man’s life, during a “victory tour” that he took throughout the American colonies years after helping the country to win its independence.

This portrait of Lafayette has hung in all three of Michigan’s capitol buildings. It was acquired by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 and originally believed to be by the French artist Ary Scheffer. Conservation later revealed that the portrait was, in fact, a copy of one by Scheffer. Copying was a common practice in the nineteenth century; not only was it used as a studying tool for emerging artists, but it was also a practical way to disseminate the likenesses of important individuals more widely. The original painting by Scheffer, to which the Capitol’s portrait is nearly identical, hangs in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol. Notably, Simpson modifies the colors in the portrait slightly to better fit the style of American art at the time.

Location: Floor 2, South Wing, Senate Floor