Sam Houston

Public Domain

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Images(2)

Artist Meade Brothers(American, active 1842–1863)American, active 1842–1863

Artist Charles Richard Meade(American, born England, 1826–1858)American, born England, 1826–1858

Artist Henry William Mathew Meade(American, born England, 1823–1865)American, born England, 1823–1865

CultureAmerican

Titles

Sam Houston

Date1851

Probable placeNew York, New York, United States

MediumDaguerreotype

DimensionsImage: 8 × 5 3/16 in. (20.3 × 13.2 cm)
Frame: 13 5/8 × 11 11/16 in. (34.6 × 29.7 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. in honor of the firm's 75th anniversary

Object number92.444

Current Location

The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building

Gallery 208

On view

Explore Further

Department

Photography

Object Type

PHOTOGRAPHS

Description

Sam Houston—leader of the Texas Revolution and two-term president of
the short-lived Republic of Texas—visited the Meade Brothers’ studio in New
York to have this portrait made when he was contemplating a run for the U.S. presidency.
Clearly understanding the power of photography to shape a public image, the
six-foot-two Houston stood confident and relaxed alongside a classical column intended
to signify statesmanship and democratic governance. Since each daguerreotype is
unique, Houston arranged for this image to be copied by hand and printed as a
lithograph for wide distribution.

ProvenanceUnidentified Estate Sale; purchased by unidentified antique dealer, early 1990 or before; [Joseph Buberger, North Haven, Connecticut, early 1990]; [Daniel Wolf, Inc., August 1990]; purchased by MFAH, 1992.
Exhibition History"Samuel Houston Bicenntenial Birthday Celebration," Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Huntsville Tx, February 23 - March 4, 1993.

"Crossing State Lines: Texas Art from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, September 23, 2000–March 18, 2001.

"A Love Affair with Pictures: 25 Years of Collecting Photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts. Houston, October 14–December 30, 2001.

"Art of Tennessee," Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, September 13, 2003–January 18, 2004.

"Turning Light Into Silver," February 19–May 30,2005, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

"The Meade Brothers: Pioneers in American Photography," National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., June 14-December 15, 2013.

“A History of Photography II: Selections from the Museum's Collection,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 17–July 19, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Printed on label, case verso: MEADE BROTHERS // AMERICAN DAGUERREOTYPE // GALLERIES, // THE LARGEST // AND BEST // ADAPTED // IN THE // WORLD // OPPOSITE // THE PARK // 233 BROADWAY, NEW YORK

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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