Young man with hair parted on left is wearing a dark jacket, white shirt and white cravat.  Background is mottled blue with areas of tan, and his shadow is cast on background at lower right.

Governor William Henry Seward Portrait by Henry Inman

c. 1843

Oil portrait on canvas of Governor William Henry Seward by Henry Inman. This was a study for a full-length portrait of Governor Seward commissioned by the New York City Common Council. A young man with hair parted on left is wearing a dark jacket, white shirt and white cravat.  Background is mottled blue with areas of tan, and his shadow is cast on background at lower right.

From "Seward an Autobiography 1801-1846" Vol 1, p 675.  "Auburn, August 11th [1843] "...Inman has been a week with me, taking his sketch for his prize-picture.  He is admitted on all hands to have a strong likeness; but it is generally said that it is not a pleasing one." "Inman remained two or three weeks in Auburn, and finished there the study from which the full-length picture for the City Hall was to be painted.  He succeeded so well in catching Seward's expression while engaged in conversation that his portrait became the favorite one in the family, and it still hangs in the original place in the parlor."