Who painted Grover Cleveland [recto]?

Grover Cleveland [recto] was painted by Eastman Johnson in 1865.

Where can I see Grover Cleveland [recto]?

Grover Cleveland [recto] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Grover Cleveland [recto]?

Grover Cleveland [recto] is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Grover Cleveland [recto]

Eastman Johnson , 1865

Grover Cleveland [recto] is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Eastman Johnson. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Eastman Johnson’s drawing titled Grover Cleveland (recto) was executed in 1865. Rendered in graphite and black crayon on a light‑brown paperboard, the work presents a quick, informal portrait of a man in profile, his gaze directed downward. The sketch remains unfinished, its loose lines and modest shading suggesting facial features such as wrinkles and a beard.

Subject & Meaning

The figure depicted is a likeness of Grover Cleveland, who would later become the twenty‑second President of the United States. The downward look and subdued expression convey a contemplative mood, perhaps reflecting the subject’s private demeanor before his public career fully unfolded.

Technique & Style

Johnson employs a limited palette of graphite and black crayon, allowing for stark contrasts and swift gestural marks. The drawing’s surface shows a rough texture, with the artist’s hand evident in the rapid, unrefined strokes that outline facial contours and suggest shading without detailed modeling.

History & Provenance

Created in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, the sketch is an early example of Johnson’s interest in contemporary figures. A small etched mark in the upper‑right corner, possibly a stamp or a faint signature, identifies the work, though its later ownership trail remains undocumented.

Artist & collection

Artist

Eastman Johnson

Jonathan Eastman Johnson (July 29, 1824 – April 5, 1906) was an American painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, with his name inscribed at its entrance.