Audio Descriptions of Presidential Portraits

The Portrait Gallery has developed audio descriptions of select portraits from our signature exhibition, “America’s Presidents.” Designed for people who are blind or have low vision, these descriptions use precise, evocative language to convey the visual appearance of art, and are equally valuable for sighted visitors seeking closer observation. We will continue to add to this list over time.

  • man facing left with powdered hair, white cravat and black coat

    Thomas Jefferson

    (Edgehill Portrait)
    Third president, 1801–1809
    Gilbert Stuart
    Oil on wood panel, 1805/1821

    Listen
  • 18th century full length portrait of a man in a black suit and leggings with a powdered wig

    George Washington

    (“Lansdowne” Portrait)
    First president, 1789–1797
    Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828)
    Oil on canvas, 1796

    Listen
  • 18th century man in a powdered wig and dark suit

    Thomas Jefferson

    Third president, 1801–1809
    Mather Brown (1761–1831)
    Oil on canvas, 1786

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  • photograph of a man in a dark suit with a crack in the photo

    Abraham Lincoln

    Sixteenth president, 1861-1865
    Alexander Gardner (1821–1882)
    Internal dye-diffusion print copied from the original 1865 albumen silver print,
    Printed 1981

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  • Man in a dark suit against a dark background, holding a walking stick

    Theodore Roosevelt

    Twenty-sixth president, 1901–1909
    Adrian Lamb (1901-1988), after Philip Alexius de László (1869-1937)
    Oil on canvas, 1967, after 1908 original

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  • Seated man in a dark suit with his hands painted in several different poses

    Franklin D Roosevelt

    Thirty-second president, 1933–1945
    Douglas Chandor (1897–1953)
    Oil on canvas, 1945

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  • Full length colorful abstract portrait of a man

    John F. Kennedy

    Thirty-fifth president, 1961–1963
    Elaine de Kooning (1918–1989)
    Oil on canvas, 1963

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  • Man in a suit resting his chin in his hand

    Richard M. Nixon

    Thirty-seventh president, 1969–1974
    Norman Rockwell (1894–1978)
    Oil on canvas, 1968

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  • Full length portrait of a man standing by a desk

    Jimmy Carter

    Thirty-ninth president, 1977–1981
    Robert Templeton (1929–1991)
    Oil on canvas, 1980

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  • Large scale portrait of a man's head

    William J. Clinton

    Forty-second president, 1993–2001
    Chuck Close (born 1940)
    Oil on canvas, 2006
    Lent by Ian and Annette Cumming

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