The Nation's Guest

Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

State Street Lobby, 1st Floor.

New York State Capitol
 

200 years ago, on September 17, 1824, the French nobleman Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, better known in the United States as “The Marquis de Lafayette” paid a historic visit to Albany, New York.

As one of George Washington’s trusted officers, Lafayette had first visited Albany in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. Lafayette played an essential role in the war by serving as a Major General in the Continental Army, helping to secure crucial French military support for the Colonies’ struggle for independence from Britain.

In 1824, to celebrate the United States’ 50^th anniversary, President James Monroe invited Lafayette to tour the United States, all twenty-four states at that time. Renowned as “The Nation’s Guest,” Lafayette’s tour was met with great fanfare as it stopped in Albany, New York at the old New York State Capitol.

Less than a year later, the New York State Legislature commissioned this painting of Lafayette. In an age without photography, this portrait is a snapshot of how the “Nation’s Guest” looked during his visit. Its detailed and realistic depiction is credited to the artist, Charles Ingham who, as noted in his signature in the bottom right corner, had Lafayette personally sit for this portrait—painting him from life instead of using models and sketches to capture his likeness.