James Madison's Montpelier We The People Fall 2013 | Page 13
We The People
FRIENDSHIP FOR THE AGES
13
Artist unknown, European, ca. 1800
Oil on panel with gilt frame; LMF2013.2.2ab
Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Peter R.W. Roughton Jr.
the
“The friendship which has subsisted between us, now half a century, and constant
harmony of our political principles and pursuits, have been sources of
happiness to me thro’ that long period.”
— Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, February 17, 1826
James Madison and Thomas Jefferson’s friendship
was one of the longest and richest relationships of both
men’s lives. In the spirit of this founding friendship,
The Montpelier Foundation and the Thomas Jefferson
Foundation at Monticello continue to collaborate on
research, collections, and interpretation initiatives.
This spring, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation gifted to
Montpelier a portrait medallion of Nelly Conway Madison,
James Madison’s mother. Italian artist Pietro Cardelli
visited Montpelier in 1819 as part of a campaign to
sculpt busts of current and former presidents. While at
Montpelier, Cardelli sculpted the 88-year-old “Mother
Madison” (1731-1829), who throughout her son’s life was
a visible presence at Montpelier where she maintained a
separate household in the south wing of the mansion.
In addition, the Monticello team made an important
discovery last summer about a pair of paintings with a
surprising and significant connection to the Madison family.
These two small cabinet paintings were first brought to
Monticello by the owners who believed they were given
to the family by Thomas Jefferson. Montpelier’s curators
now believe the paintings descended through the extended
Madison family and were erroneously connected to
Jefferson in the early twentieth century. The subjects of
both paintings match titles found on a ca. 1837 list titled
“Oil paintings at Montpellier.” Research suggests these
pieces may have been acquired by John Payne Todd, Dolley
Madison’s son, during his travels in Europe with the U.S.
diplomatic delegation sent to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent,
which ended the War of 1812.
The Montpelier Foundation recognizes with gratitude
the Thomas Jefferson Foundation for their collegiality and
generosity, and invites you to come see these items, which
are now on display in the Joe and Marge Grills Gallery.
Nelly Conway Madison
Pietro Cardelli (1776-1822), 1819
Plaster
MF2012.13.1
Gift of Monticello/Thomas Jefferson
Foundation, Inc. 2013
Artist unknown, European, ca. 1800
Oil on panel with gilt frame
LMF2013.2.2ab
Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Peter R.W. Roughton Jr.