White House, Green Room, and Laura Bush

The White House Green Room, 2009.
Photo:  WhiteHouse.gov.

The recent unveiling of the official White House portrait of First Lady Laura Bush brought to mind the Green Room, used as the setting for painting and significant because of Mrs. Bush's efforts to refurbish the room in 2007.

The Official White House Portrait of First Lady Laura Bush, 2012.
Painted by John Howard Sanden.
Image:  White House Historical Association.

After seeing the portrait of President George W. Bush completed in 2011, Mrs. Bush chose the same artist, John Howard Sanden.  Born in Austin, Texas, in 1935, the artist now lives in Connecticut and maintains a Carnegie Hall studio.  The portraits were commissioned by the White House Historical Association as a gift of the George B. Hartog, Jr., White House Acquisition Trust.  The Devoted Classicist is always interested in the settings for portraits, and President Bush's is particularly interesting from a political viewpoint, but this essay will discuss Laura Bush's because of the decorative arts focus.  In addition to a well-chosen dress, a number of the features of the White House Green Room are shown in the carefully considered composition.

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin.
Image:  WhiteHouse.gov.

The portrait of Benjamin Franklin over the mantle was painted by David Martin in 1767.  The Scholar's Notes from the White House Historical Association offers that the portrait was commissioned by Robert Alexander of the firm William Alexander & Sons, Edinburgh.  The ribboned document is one of Alexander's deeds, the books and pamphlets suggest the evidence to support a wise man's decision, and the bust of Isaac Newton represents the English Voice of Reason.  Sometimes called the 'thumb portrait', the position of the hand with the thumb pressed against the chin expresses the pressure of concentrated thought.  The portrait was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Annenberg to contribute to Jacqueline Kennedy's plea for art for the White House.  (One of the richest individuals in the U.S. at the time, he was a big financial supporter of Richard Nixon and was appointed as ambassador to Britain by Ronald Reagan).

Green Room Mantle Clock.
Photo:  WhiteHouse.gov.

Although not visible in the portrait, there is an ormolu clock on the mantle with a figure of George Washington and an eagle.  Acquired in 1961, it dates from circa 1806 and is attributed to Jean-Baptiste Dubuc.  Washington is depicted in full dress uniform with a scroll of laws in his right hand and his left hand against his sword.  The eagle represents the Great Seal of the United States and holds a bundle of 13 arrows in its left talon, referring to the thirteen original states.  The enamel dial is inscribed with the well-known quotation from Washington's funeral oration by Major-General Henry Lee, "Washington, First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of his Countrymen".

Green Room Easy Chair, 2007.
Image:  Washington Post.

The new rug in a neo-classical pattern and the reupholstery of the easy chairs at the fireplace in a brighter coral silk damask are part of First Lady Laura Bush's contributions to the room.  The pattern of the rug is based on an early 19th century French Savonnerie rug but with intensified colors and other adjustments made as it was woven especially for the room.  The Federal period chairs were added to the room in 1971-2, but were previously in a more subtle salmon color fabric. 

The Green Room, 2001.
Official White House Photo by Moreen Ishikawa.

This earlier view shows the First Lady Laura Bush, right, entertaining the wife of the President of Mexico, Mrs. Vicente Fox.

The Bust of Benjamin Franklin.
Photo:  WhiteHouse.gov

The Sevres bust of Benjamin Franklin dates from 1810.

Duncan Phyfe Work Table.
Photo:  WhiteHouse.gov

This magnificent work table, one of a pair and shown in the open position, is attributed to Duncan Phyfe and dates from circa 1810.

The Green Room during the Presidency of George W. Bush.
Photo:  Architectural Digest.

The curtains are also new, in a similar but simplied version of the design from the Nixon redecoration in the early 1970s.  The new fabric and the finish of the valances are also more vibrant than previously. The watered silk wall covering was also replaced with a slightly brighter green in a larger scale weave.

Silver Tea Urn on Display in the Green Room.
Photo:  WhiteHouse.gov

Although this writer is not particularly fond of the full time display of the Sheffield silver hot water urn (alternately described as a tea or coffee urn) in the Green Room, he is is apparently in the minority.  Many appreciate it for the symbol of hospitality it provides as the room is used for receptions.  It was owned by John and Abigail Adams, the first occupants of the White House in 1800.  Some think the neo-classical vase-shaped urn may have been acquired when Adams was American minister to England, 1785-88, as it dates from that period.  The front is engraved with "JAA".  It had remained in the family until sold in 1946.  The urn was given to the White House in 1964 by Mr. and Mrs. Mark Bortman and Jane Bortman Larus.  (According to Lady Bird Johnson's published diary, Mr. Bortman was a friend of President Johnson and made several other donations to the White House as well).

"Lighter Relieving a Steamboat Aground" by George Caleb Bingham.
Image from the White House Historical Association.

George Caleb Bingham's 1847 painting, "Lighter Relieving a Steamboat Aground" has often been seen as being representative of a political statement as the artist ran for the Missouri House of Representatives in 1846 and was elected;  however, the results were contested and he was forced out of office.

"The Builders" by Jacob Lawrence is displayed in the Green Room.
Image from the White House Historical Association.

"The Builders" is a 1947 painting by Jacob Lawrence, one of the newest works of art in the permanent White House collection.  It was acquired at auction in 2007 for $2.5 million by the White House Acquisition Trust.

President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.
Photo:  Architectural Digest.

The Green Room refurbishment was undertaken during the summer of 2007 by First Lady Laura Bush, advised by the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, Fort Worth decorator Ken Blasingame, and White House curator William Allman.  The next posting of The Devoted Classicist blog will present a history of the Green Room decoration with focus on the accomplishments of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who set the standard by which all White House decoration is judged, and First Lady Pat Nixon, whose scheme is still the basis of decoration in the Green Room today.