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President Martin Van Buren
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Van Buren tied the knot with Hannah Hoes on February 21, 1807. She was not only his childhood sweetheart but also his first cousin once removed. Their nuptials took place in Catskill, New York. They were blessed with five sons and one daughter. However, after being married for 12 years, Hannah fell ill with tuberculosis. Regrettably, she passed away on February 5, 1819, at the age of 35. Martin Van Buren remained unmarried for the rest of his life.
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| Hannah Van Buren |
Little is known about Hannah, who succumbed to tuberculosis approximately one month before reaching her 36th birthday. She did not leave any written works behind, and Martin, who remained unmarried after her passing, did not even utter her name in the autobiography he penned in his later years. At the time Martin assumed the presidency in 1837, their sons were all unmarried. Subsequently, in the following year, Abraham entered into matrimony with Angelica Singleton, who dutifully fulfilled the role of White House hostess until the conclusion of Martin's term in 1841.
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| Angelica Van Buren |
Martin Van Buren, the eighth President, became a widower 18 years prior to moving into the Executive Mansion in 1837. He never remarried, which meant that the Van Buren White House did not have a hostess until Angelica Singleton Van Buren (1816–1877) filled the role in 1839. Angelica, originally from South Carolina, was the daughter of a wealthy and influential cotton planter and had family ties to Dolley Madison, the esteemed socialite of the capital. It was through Mrs. Madison that she met Abraham, Van Buren's son and private secretary, at the White House. They exchanged vows in November 1838, and on New Year's Day in 1839, Angelica officially became the president's hostess.
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| President Martin Van Buren |
In his treatment of the marble bust of Martin Van Buren, Inman skillfully employs artistic diplomacy. Through tricks of perspective, the sculpture appears further back in the picture space than what would be deemed logical. Inman also reduces the sculpture's size to ensure it does not overshadow the head of Angelica. Simultaneously, he draws attention to the bust by spotlighting it, thereby preventing the president from fading into insignificance.
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| Henry Inman |
In case your wondering who was
Inman? I know I did! Celebrate the life and work of Henry Inman, the leading American portraitist of his time! Born in Utica, New York, Inman was known for his exceptional skill in painting portraits, particularly that of Martin Van Buren. His works are a testament to his dedication to his craft.
Inman's portrayal of Angelica obscures a dominant trait of her personality — haughtiness — through her frank expression and womanly warmth. In the spring of 1839, Angelica and her husband journeyed to Europe as ambassadors-without-portfolio. Angelica was greatly impressed by the customs at the courts of Queen Victoria and Louis Philippe, where queens and even bourgeois "princesses" did not stand in receiving lines and shake hands with the citizenry as was customary at the White House. Instead, they stood on platforms and received the homage of their subjects. Angelica briefly introduced this practice at the White House but abandoned it when a Whig congressman disparaged her as a "Democratic peacock in full court costume, strutting." Despite the elegance of her attire in this portrait, Inman's vision depicts Angelica Van Buren as a vibrant and approachable human being to all who have beheld it.
Well that´s saying much about Hannah Van Buren, she was very young when she died. Her named wasn´t even mention in Martin Van Buren autobioraphy. It was said back then you could really depend on the ¨Lady¨ who was writing about herself. But not this one, her dying so young.
Well, can you buy me a cup of coffee?
