Queen Victoria (1838) is the most famous painting by Thomas Sully, held by the Wallace Collection in London. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786 (1823) and George Washington (1840) are the next two works the world knows best. From the 437 works of Thomas Sully in our catalogue, here are the 100 that collectors and museum visitors look at most, with the year, the museum and the story of each.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated October 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.
Thomas Jefferson steps from the shadows of a doorway into a soft, overcast light. He is captured in a moment of transition, moving toward an outdoor setting that remains indistinct and atmospheric. His gaze is directed slightly upward and away, suggesting a mind preoccupied with matters beyond the immediate frame. He wears a long, dark purple or plum-colored coat with wide cuffs, a garment that holds its form through heavy,…
Thomas Sully rendered this portrait of George Washington in 1840. Executed in oil on canvas, the work captures the likeness of the American leader with a focus on formal dignity. The portrait belongs to the tradition of nineteenth-century American portraiture, reflecting the era's emphasis on character and status.
Thomas Sully’s “Mrs. Edward Hudson,” completed in 1814, stands as an emblem of the Victorian era's fascination with portraiture and its celebration of aristocratic status. More than just a likeness of Dr. Edward Hudson—a prominent physician and influential figure within London society—the painting embodies the ideals of refinement, intellect, and moral virtue that defined the period’s artistic sensibilities.
In the quietude of Thomas Sully’s 1841 masterpiece, Child Asleep (The Rosebud), we find more than a mere depiction of infancy; we encounter a profound meditation on innocence and the ephemeral nature of beauty. This exquisite oil on canvas serves as a cornerstone of American Romanticism, capturing a moment of absolute tranquility that seems to suspend time itself. The painting presents a serene tableau where a sleeping infant rests upon…
Thomas Sully’s “The Coleman Sisters,” painted in 1844, is more than just a portrait; it's a carefully constructed tableau of Victorian elegance imbued with an undercurrent of melancholic beauty. The painting depicts three young women – likely sisters – posed before a simple wall backdrop, their postures and expressions hinting at both composure and a quiet introspection that speaks volumes about the era’s societal expectations for women.
In this oil painting from 1810, we find ourselves drawn into a dramatic landscape at the edge of day. The composition centers on a reclining figure, William B. Wood, portrayed here through the persona of "Charles de Moor." He rests within a rugged terrain, his arm outstretched toward the left, guiding our gaze across the scene. There is a certain tension in his pose, an energy that suggests a narrative…
The Painter in the Shadows A young man gazes out from the canvas, his eyes meeting the viewer with a calm, contemplative stillness. He sits amidst the tools of his trade, the blurred shapes of a palette and paintbrushes resting in the foreground, hinting at a life lived through the application of pigment. The light falls heavily upon one side of his face, a technique of deep shadows and bright…
Colonel Samuel Boyer Davis is rendered in a full-length, vertical composition that emphasizes his military authority. He stands with a slight, dynamic tilt, positioned off-center against an atmospheric backdrop of swirling grey and beige clouds. This setting suggests the smoke and dust of a battlefield, providing a somber environment for the subject. The lighting, originating from the upper left, casts subtle shadows across his face and body, creating a sense…
The air in the room feels still, held in a quiet suspension as Eliza Melville Young McAllister meets the viewer's gaze. She sits with a poise that suggests a life of quiet refinement, her expression composed and steady. The light, soft and directional, spills from the upper left, brushing against the pale curve of her cheek and the delicate, translucent lace of her headpiece. This illumination creates a gentle depth,…
Thomas Sully's "John Finley," painted in 1821, is more than just a likeness; it’s a carefully constructed embodiment of power and prestige within the burgeoning American landscape. The…
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The young man in the portrait meets the observer with a direct, steady gaze that seems to bridge the gap between 1811 and the present moment. He sits…
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This portrait of John Sergeant was painted by Thomas Sully in 1811. The sitter, a man of significant political and legal standing, is captured here in a moment…
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Mother and Son: An Allegory of Domestic Harmony This magnificent portrait by Thomas Sully, completed in 1840, transcends mere representation; it embodies a profound meditation on familial bonds…
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A central female figure dominates this Romanticist portrait, her gaze directed off-camera with an expression of focused intensity. She holds a long strip of parchment, a detail that…
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The sitter faces the viewer with a steady, direct gaze, her presence anchored by the deep shadows of a dark background. A soft, directional light brushes the right…
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Thomas Sully's "Mary Anne Heide Norris," painted in 1830, is more than just a likeness; it’s a carefully constructed tableau of wealth, status, and the idealized femininity prized…
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This oil portrait, executed in 1807, presents a bust-length view of Thomas Ash II. The subject is positioned slightly off-center, facing toward the left while his gaze is…
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This portrait, titled Mary Harvey, Mrs. Paul Beck, Jr., was painted by Thomas Sully in 1813. The subject is Mary Harvey, who was the second wife of the…
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This small-scale portrait miniature presents a bust-length view of a young man, Lester Wallach, set within an oval frame. The subject is positioned centrally, facing the viewer with…
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Thomas Sully rendered this oil on canvas portrait of John Vaughan between 1815 and 1823. The work captures the subject in a dignified, intimate bust-length composition, positioning him…
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Thomas Sully presents a portrait of Thomas Heyward, Jr., executed about 1854. The work features a single male figure, rendered with the technical precision characteristic of the American…
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Step closer to observe the quiet gravity of Colonel Jonathan Williams. In this 1815 oil on canvas, we encounter the man not in the heat of battle, but…
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Thomas Sully’s William Alston, Class of 1825 presents a formal portrait of a single male figure. The work, executed in oil, captures the likeness of Alston during a…
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Thomas Sully executed Mischief (Girl's Head) in 1866. This oil on canvas painting belongs to the artist's later period, capturing a specific moment of youthful curiosity through a…
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In the quiet, commanding presence of Thomas Sully’s 1819 masterpiece, The Reverend George Houstoun Woodruff, one encounters more than a mere historical likeness; one meets a profound meditation…
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In "Prison Scene from J. Fenimore Cooper’s “The Pilot”: “Cecelia Howard and Katherine Plowden arousing the prisoner Edward Griffith from his slumber.”" by Thomas Sully, a clandestine moment…
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Sarah Annis (1779-1867) of Annapolis was first married to Lawrence Sully (q.v.). Following Lawrence"s death, she married his younger brother Thomas in June 1806.
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Sully recorded this miniature in his register for August 1805 as "Mrs. Worseley," with a price of twenty dollars.
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In this intimate double portrait, titled Self-Portrait of the Artist Painting His Wife (Sarah Annis Sully), the artist Thomas Sully presents a deeply personal view of his own…
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The gaze meets us directly in Self-Portrait, a work where the artist Thomas Sully turns his brush upon his own likeness. Created in 1850, this painting captures the…
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This portrait presents Charles Carnan Ridgely, a man who held significant influence as the second master of the Hampton estate. Painted in 1820, the work captures the sitter…
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The gaze of Major John Biddle meets the viewer with a steady, unyielding weight. He sits encased in a black coat, the fabric absorbing the light, punctuated only…
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The David Children is a portrait painted by Thomas Sully in 1826. The canvas captures a mother and her young child, likely a boy, within a quiet domestic…
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This work is a Portrait of a Woman by the artist Thomas Sully. Executed in oil on canvas or panel, the piece belongs to the genre of portraiture,…
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This 1832 oil painting presents a half-length portrait of Sarah Annis Sully, depicted from the chest up within an oval composition. The subject is positioned centrally, her gaze…
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This 1849 oil on canvas presents a bust-length portrait of James Pollard Espy. The subject is positioned slightly off-center, facing towards the viewer's right while his gaze meets…
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This oil on canvas portrait, titled Captain Charles Stewart, was executed by the artist Thomas Sully. The work depicts Captain Charles Stewart, a United States Navy officer, in…
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This oil on canvas portrait depicts Rosalie Spang. The work was executed by the artist Thomas Sully in 1848. The subject is presented in a formal manner, positioned…
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The Rebecca Gratz painting, created by Thomas Sully in 1831, is a captivating oil on panel portrait that showcases the artist's skill in capturing the essence of his…
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Thomas Sully’s “Musidora,” completed in 1813, is more than just a depiction of a nude figure; it's a carefully constructed moment of burgeoning romance, steeped in the sensibilities…
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Thomas Sully's "The Student," painted in 1839, is more than just a likeness; it’s a carefully constructed tableau of introspection and nascent artistic promise. This captivating portrait, rendered…
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Grand portrait of President George Washington (1732-1799), Commander-in-Chief to the Continental Army during the American Revolution and 1st President of the United States. General Washington is not depicted…
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In this 1842 portrait, we find ourselves in the presence of Mrs. George Lingen. There is a quiet confidence in her gaze, a subtle smile that suggests a…
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In the quiet, commanding presence of Thomas Sully’s 1806 portrait, Governor Peyton Randolph, one finds more than a mere likeness of a political figure; one encounters the very…
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For this portrait the artist copied Gilbert Stuart"s triple portrait of Elizabeth "Betsy" Patterson Bonaparte.
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The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Thomas Sully | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Metropolitan Museum of Art |
New York | 23 | George Washington, Child Asleep (The Rosebud), John Finley |
 National Gallery of Art |
Washington | 22 | The Coleman Sisters, William B. Wood as "Charles de Moor", John Quincy Adams |
 National Portrait Gallery |
Washington, D.C. | 6 | Thomas Sully, John Sergeant, Thomas Ash II |
 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts |
Philadelphia | 8 | George Frederick Cooke as Richard III, Elizabeth Willing Jackson, Frances Anne Kemble as Beatrice |
 Museum of Fine Arts |
Boston | 7 | John Myers, Mrs. Joseph Rotch (Anne Smith), Victor René Value and His Daughter Charlotte |
 Yale University Art Gallery |
New Haven | 4 | Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786, Lester Wallach (1820-1888), Elizabeth Cook (Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Bache) as The Country Girl |
 Cincinnati Art Museum |
Cincinnati | 4 | Portia, Merchant of Venice (Recto) / Sketch of a Woman's Head (Verso), William Alston |
 Dallas Museum of Art |
Dallas | 3 | Mary Harvey, Mrs. Paul Beck, Jr., Portrait of Mrs. George H. Crossman |
This oil portrait, executed in 1807, presents a bust-length view of Thomas Ash II. The subject is positioned slightly off-center, facing toward the left while his gaze is…
Thomas Sully’s “Mrs. Edward Hudson,” completed in 1814, stands as an emblem of the Victorian era's fascination with portraiture and its celebration of aristocratic status. More than just…
Thomas Jefferson steps from the shadows of a doorway into a soft, overcast light. He is captured in a moment of transition, moving toward an outdoor setting that…
Thomas Sully rendered this portrait of George Washington in 1840. Executed in oil on canvas, the work captures the likeness of the American leader with a focus on…
Thomas Sully presents a portrait of Thomas Heyward, Jr., executed about 1854. The work features a single male figure, rendered with the technical precision characteristic of the American…
Thomas Sully executed Mischief (Girl's Head) in 1866. This oil on canvas painting belongs to the artist's later period, capturing a specific moment of youthful curiosity through a…
Queen Victoria (1838), Wallace Collection, London. Next come Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786 (1823) and George Washington (1840).
55 years old: Queen Victoria dates from 1838 and Thomas Sully was born in 1783.
Queen Victoria, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786, George Washington, Dr. Edward Hudson, Child Asleep (The Rosebud), The Coleman Sisters, William B. Wood as "Charles de Moor", Thomas Sully, Colonel Samuel Boyer Davis and Eliza Melville Young McAllister (Mrs. John McAllister, Jr.) (1790-1853). The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.
Our catalogue lists 437 works by Thomas Sully, dated from 1802 to 1866.
Most of them are in Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), National Gallery of Art (Washington) and National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.). The table above lists the museums one by one.
In 1810s: 25 of the 100 works on this page date from then, among them Dr. Edward Hudson.
The earliest on this page is Mrs. Thomas Sully (Sarah Annis) (1802), the latest Mischief (Girl's Head) (1866).
Man (18), Portrait (17) and Woman (10), among the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas: 32 of the 100 works on this page.
Romanticism and Neoclassicism, as the paintings on this page show.
George Washington, Child Asleep (The Rosebud) and John Finley are among the 11 works on this page held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.
