James Knox Polk

Painting

NSCDA-TN

Name/Title

James Knox Polk

Entry/Object ID

Polk, James Knox2

Description

President Polk in middle age, brown hair, dark jacket, white shirt, seated.

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil on Canvas

Collection

Private Collection

Made/Created

Notes

The artist is unknown, although in the 1980s The Smithsonian Institution had the portrait shipped to Washington to be examined to see if was a G. P. A. Healy. They could not confirm that it was a Healy, but they also could not confirm that it was not a Healy. It is unsigned and in the original frame.

Provenance

Notes

The portrait was originally owned by Sarah Childress Polk, the wife of the President. The President's nephew, Marshall Tate Polk was raised by the Polks after the death of his father, Marshall Tate Polk, Sr., in 1831. After the death of Marshall Tate Polk, Jr. in 1884, Mrs. Polk, before her death in 1891, gave the portrait to his son, James Knox Polk, Sr. He then left the portrait to his son, James K. Polk, Jr., who left it to his daughter, Virginia Knox Polk (Van Zandt) and she left it her son, the present owner.

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

September 26, 2026

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

September 26, 2026