Madison's drawing-room. Here I was most
graciously received; found a crowded collec-
tion of great and little men, of ugly old women
and beautiful young ones, and in ten minutes
was hand and glove with half the people in the
assemblage. Mrs. Madison is a fine, portly,
buxom dame, who has a smile and a pleasant
word for everybody. Her sisters, Mrs. Cutts
and Mrs. Washington, are like two merry
wives of Windsor ; but as to Jemmy Madison
oh, poor Jemmy ! he is but a withered little
apple-john."

Miniatures of James Monroe and his wife
128




Reverend John Breckinridge

By John Sartain

Page 225




James Monroe
By Sene
Page 129



HEIRLOOMS IN MINIATURES

were painted, while they were in Paris in
1794, by Sene. If, as has been stated on the
authority of EugSne Muntz, librarian of the
Ecole des Beaux-Arts, little is known of the
artist Sene, he has not been served according
to his deserts, as these portraits of the great
American statesman and his wife would alone
establish his claim to distinguished ability as a
miniaturist. The portrait of James Monroe,
which is exquisite in composition and color, is
owned by the widow of his grandson, Mrs.
Gouverneur, of Washington, D. C., while
the graceful and charming miniature of Mrs.
Monroe (Elizabeth Kortright) belongs to Mr.
Charles Wilmer, of Baltimore.
A large portrait of Mrs. Monroe was painted
by Benjamin West when she was in London
in 1796. This portrait, which is described as
very beautiful, is signed and dated by the
artist. It is also owned by Mrs. Monroe's
granddaughter, Mrs. Gouverneur.
