Object Details
Artist
Unidentified Artist
Studio
Mathew Brady Studio, active 1844 - 1894
Sitter
Julia Boggs Dent Grant, 26 Jan 1826 - 14 Dec 1902
Exhibition Label
Born near St. Louis, Missouri
First Lady 1869–1877
For eight years, Julia Boggs Dent Grant reveled in her role as first lady and White House hostess. Following the couple’s departure from the presidential mansion, she was loath to relinquish the spotlight. The White House receptions that she hosted were lavish affairs. At her husband Ulysses S. Grant’s presidential inaugural ball, she wore diamond and pearl jewelry over a white silk dress trimmed with handmade lace.
Grant also raised the expectations for entertaining by hosting foreign dignitaries, including King Kala¯kaua and Queen Kapi'olani of the Sandwich Islands (Hawai‘i), Russia’s Grand Duke Alexis, and a delegation of Japanese political and military leaders. The state dinners she organized featured sophisticated menus prepared by Valentino Melah, the Italian-trained chef she hired, and often included as many as twenty-five courses.
Nacida cerca de San Luis, Misuri
Primera dama 1869–1877
Durante ocho años, Julia Boggs Dent Grant se deleitó en su rol de primera dama y anfitriona de la Casa Blanca. Cuando ella y su esposo dejaron la mansión presidencial, estaba reacia a no ser ya el centro de la escena social. Sus recepciones en la Casa Blanca fueron eventos fastuosos. En el baile inaugural de Ulysses S. Grant, lució joyas de diamantes y perlas con un vestido de seda blanca adornado de encaje hecho a mano.
Grant también sentó altos estándares sociales al recibir a dignatarios extranjeros, entre ellos el rey Kala¯kaua y la reina Kapi’olani de las islas Sandwich (Hawái), el gran duque Alexis de Rusia y una delegación de líderes políticos y militares de Japón. En las cenas para jefes de estado ofrecía menús exquisitos, a menudo de hasta 25 platos, a cargo de Valentino Melah, un chef adiestrado en Italia que había contratado.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Date
c. 1864
Object number
S/NPG.79.246.156
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Photograph
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 8.5 × 5.3 cm (3 3/8 × 2 1/16")
Mount: 10.1 × 6.1 cm (4 × 2 3/8")
Mat: 45.7 × 35.6 cm (18 × 14")
Place
United States\New York\Kings\New York
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Costume\Jewelry\Ring
Home Furnishings\Drape
Equipment\Rope
Photographic format\Carte-de-visite
Interior\Studio\Photography
Tassel
Julia Boggs Dent Grant: Female
Julia Boggs Dent Grant: Politics and Government\First Lady\First Lady of US
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_S_NPG.79.246.156