William Henry Harrison 

Rembrandt Peale painted this portrait of William Henry Harrison in the first half of the 19th century. Here, Harrison is presented as a military hero, in full uniform, complete with gold epaulettes and sword. This imagery connects to Harrison’s carefully cultivated image as a war hero, a strategy deployed during the 1840 presidential election that saw him triumph over Martin Van Buren. The portrait uses visual codes, like the military regalia, to convey a sense of authority and strength. The artist, Rembrandt Peale, came from a family of famous portrait painters, and he knew what visual strategies would appeal to the institutions of power in the United States. Understanding the social and political context of the time—the rise of American nationalism, the importance of military achievement, and the expansion of the American frontier—helps us understand the painting's popularity. Historical documents, such as campaign posters and newspaper articles, can tell us more about the social conditions that shaped its production and reception. What this image tells us is contingent on both its creation and its context.