Portraits of the Presidents: The National Portrait Gallery

One of the most visited galleries of the National Portrait Gallery is “America’s Presidents,” the collection of portraits of the elected leaders of the United States that is at the heart of the Gallery’s mission to tell the American story through the individuals who have shaped it. More than a visual record of the holders of power, these images evoke the careers and legacies of the men they portray. 

An authoritative, engaging text by Frederick Voss offers a concise history of each president and details how each portrait came to be made. Included in this book are images of every American president, from Gilbert Stuart’s famous depiction of George Washington to Elaine de Kooning’s John Kennedy and Norman Rockwell’s Richard Nixon, and ending with Shepard Fairey’s portrayal of president Barack Obama. Popular presidents like Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy are represented by multiple images. This is the ideal commemorative gift for history buffs and students alike.