Andrew Jackson

myminifactory

This portrait of Andrew Jackson was crafted by Ferdinand August Pettrich. Right before the end of Jackson's presidency, Pettrich gained access to President Jackson through a letter written to the President's nephew. Pettrich, a German artist who trained as a sculptor in Rome, got to work directly from life. This means the artist could see their subject up close, rather than creating from looking at a picture or drawing. The artist chose to represent Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, with a bare chest and stern expression, showing off Jackson's strong personality, which included a legendary temper. The sculpture was carved when Jackson was nearly 70 years old, and the artist didn't try to idealize or flatter his subject. In this way, the sculpture follows a realistic style of art that was favored by rulers in ancient Rome. Jackson himself wanted a faithful representation, having told other artists, "I don't want to look young as long as I feel old." A year after taking office, Andrew Jackson worked to pass legislation called the Indian Removal Act through both houses of Congress in 1830. The act required American Indians to give up their lands east of the Mississippi in exchange for lands in the west. Those who wanted to stay could become citizens of the state where they lived. In theory, the treaty was designed to be voluntary and peaceful, but some were forced to leave their land. Many American Indian nation leaders tried to stop Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act by meeting with the President, visiting the Supreme Court, and protesting in Washington, D.C. During these visits, the artist Pettrich saw the activities of the tribal delegations in the capital city. He was very impressed by those he met and had many of the Chiefs come to his studio. While they were there, Pettrich made studies, or drawings, of American Indian leaders. In October 1837, a Sioux delegation performed ceremonial dances in Franklin Square. Pettrich sketched these dances, which were later published. He kept exploring the theme of the American Indian like artists such as Peter Stephenson, whose Wounded Indian is also in the Chrysler Museum of Art collection.