Thomas Sully, 1783 – 1872
Thomas Sully's 100 Most Famous Paintings
Queen Victoria (1838) is the painting Thomas Sully is best remembered for; it belongs to the Wallace Collection, London. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786 (1823) and George Washington (1840) complete the trio of best-loved canvases. Our catalogue counts 437 works by Thomas Sully. Here are the 100 most famous, with the year, the museum and the story of each canvas.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated October 2026. Each painting on this page can be ordered as an oil reproduction painted by hand on linen canvas, or as a fine art print, made to the size you choose.
- Born · died
- 1783 – 1872, Horncastle
- Movement
- Romanticism
- Works in our catalogue
- 437
- Most famous
- Queen Victoria (1838)
- Most works at
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
The ten best-loved paintings by Thomas Sully
2
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786
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,…
3
George Washington
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.
4
Dr. Edward Hudson
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.
5
Child Asleep (The Rosebud)
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…
6
The Coleman Sisters
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.
7
William B. Wood as "Charles de Moor"
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…
8
Thomas Sully
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…
9
Colonel Samuel Boyer Davis
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…
10
Eliza Melville Young McAllister (Mrs. John McAllister, Jr.) (1790-1853)
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: canvases 11 to 100 of the ranking
#11
John Finley
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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#12
Portrait of Robert Erwin Gray
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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#13
John Sergeant
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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#14
Mother and Son
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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#15
Portia, Merchant of Venice (Recto) / Sketch of a Woman's Head (Verso)
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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#16
Isabella Tod Stewart
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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#17
Mary Anne Heide Norris
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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#18
Thomas Ash II
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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#19
Mary Harvey, Mrs. Paul Beck, Jr.
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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#22
Lester Wallach (1820-1888)
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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#23
John Vaughan
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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#24
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
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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#25
Portrait of Colonel Jonathan Williams (1750-1815)
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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#26
William Alston
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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#27
Mischief (Girl's Head)
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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#28
The Reverend George Houstoun Woodruff
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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#29
Prison Scene from J. Fenimore Cooper’s “The Pilot”: “Cecelia Howard and Katherine Plowden arousing the prisoner Edward Griffith from his slumber.”
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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#30
Mrs. Thomas Sully (Sarah Annis)
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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#37
Mrs. William Wortley Worsley (Rebecca Smith)
Sully recorded this miniature in his register for August 1805 as "Mrs. Worseley," with a price of twenty dollars.
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#55
Self-Portrait of the Artist Painting His Wife (Sarah Annis Sully)
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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#63
Self-Portrait
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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#72
Charles Carnan Ridgely
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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#74
Major John Biddle
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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#75
The David Children
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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#76
Portrait of a Woman
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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#78
Sarah Annis Sully (Mrs. Thomas Sully)
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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#79
James Pollard Espy
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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#80
Captain Charles Stewart
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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#81
Rosalie Spang
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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#82
Rebecca Gratz
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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#83
Musidora
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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#86
The Student
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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#87
Equestrian Portrait of George Washington
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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#88
Mrs. George Lingen
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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#91
Governor Peyton Randolph
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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#94
Madame Jerome Bonaparte (Elizabeth Patterson)
For this portrait the artist copied Gilbert Stuart"s triple portrait of Elizabeth "Betsy" Patterson Bonaparte.
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Thomas Sully's canvases, period by period
Early Period
1807 – 1811 · 5 works in this list
Mature Period
1810 – 1854 · 33 works in this list
Late Period
1848 – 1866 · 3 works in this listWhat Thomas Sully painted most
The four subjects that return most often on these canvases, each with its best-loved example.
Man 18 works
Portrait 17 works
Woman 10 works
Portraiture 7 works
Where Thomas Sully's canvases hang
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 |
Thomas Sully's most famous canvas, decade after decade
-
1800s
Canvas 18 of 100
Thomas Ash II
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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1810s
Canvas 4 of 100Dr. Edward Hudson
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…
-
1820s
Canvas 2 of 100Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786
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…
-
1830s
Ranked 1 of 100Queen Victoria
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1840s
Ranked 3 of 100George Washington
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…
-
1850s
Ranked 24 of 100
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
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…
-
1860s
Ranked 27 of 100
Mischief (Girl's Head)
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…
Thomas Sully's canvases, question by question
Which canvas is Thomas Sully most remembered for?Read the answer
Queen Victoria (1838), Wallace Collection, London. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), LL.D. 1786 (1823) and George Washington (1840) follow.
Queen Victoria: how old was Thomas Sully when it was painted?Read the answer
Thomas Sully, born in 1783, was 55 years old: Queen Victoria dates from 1838.
What are Thomas Sully's ten most famous canvases?Read the answer
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). Each canvas in the ranking above comes with its year and its museum.
How many paintings did Thomas Sully create?Read the answer
437 works by Thomas Sully are in our catalogue, dated 1802 to 1866.
Where do Thomas Sully's most famous canvases hang today?Read the answer
Mostly in Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), National Gallery of Art (Washington) and National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.); the list above names each museum and its canvases.
When did Thomas Sully paint the most famous canvases?Read the answer
In 1810s, which gave 25 of the 100 works on this page, Dr. Edward Hudson among them.
Which famous Thomas Sully canvas came first, and which came last?Read the answer
The earliest canvas here is Mrs. Thomas Sully (Sarah Annis) (1802); the latest is Mischief (Girl's Head) (1866).
Which subjects did Thomas Sully paint most?Read the answer
Man (18), Portrait (17) and Woman (10), across the 100 works on this page.
Which medium appears most in Thomas Sully's paintings?Read the answer
Oil On Canvas, used in 32 of the 100 works on this page.
Which movement is Thomas Sully associated with?Read the answer
Romanticism and Neoclassicism, as the canvases on this page show.
Which paintings by Thomas Sully are held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art?Read the answer
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York holds 11 of the works on this page, among them George Washington, Child Asleep (The Rosebud) and John Finley.
Where can I buy a reproduction of a Thomas Sully painting?Read the answer
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered from its own page as an oil reproduction painted by hand, or as a fine art print, in the size you choose.