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Elizabeth Monroe (1768–1830)
Born New York City
First Lady 1817-1825
Having lived in Paris for two years, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe was a remarkably cosmopolitan woman who established herself as a skilled hostess in the European style. As first lady, she implemented new White House protocols and redecorated the mansion, giving the interior a continental atmosphere.
The small size of this portrait miniature, created by the Swiss-French artist Louis Sené, would have enabled James Monroe to carry it in his pocket. In turn, the future first lady might have worn a matching one of him pinned to her dress or secured by a ribbon around her neck.
Louis Sené (1747–1804)
Watercolor on ivory, c. 1795
Halton Family Collection; exhibited at James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, Virginia |