Yankee

Abstract

?ith the threat of war with Britain turning to certainty, and the economy geared to military preparations, theatre operations dwindled. The British invaded the young republic, captured the new capital and burned the White House to a hollow shell. At that time the spirited and hospitable First Lady Dolley Madison famously rescued the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington. Dolley s acquisition of the title “Lady Presidentress” contrasts with Abigail Adams’ “poli-ticianess.” Her influence over her husband was just as strong, but more open minded and open hearted. Politicians welcomed her conversation, sense of humor, sense of style, and love of people of all walks of life. Rather than the stern and secretive wife of Brutus that Abigail identified with in Julius Caesa?, Dolley Madison shared with her sisters a title drawn from another of Shakespeare’s plays—The Merry Wives of Windso?. The contrast in the two First Ladies can be detected in their portraits as painted by Gilbert Stuart, the artist who painted all of the first First Ladies—Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, on up to and including Louisa Adams—as well as their husbands. Stuart had returned to America from Ireland expressly to paint President George Washington and thereby make a fortune. He succeeded in making the now famous portraits of Washington, but failed to hold onto any fortune.