Rembrandt Peale, Thomas Jefferson, 1805, oil on linen, 28 x 23 1/2 in., New-York Historical Society, Gift of Thomas Jefferson Bryan, Photography ©New-York Historical Society.
About this Artwork
Humboldt came to Washington to meet the third president of the United States. He wanted to share a map with Jefferson that he had drawn while he was in Mexico the previous year. It contained detailed information about territory that had just become part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. This gesture of generosity endeared Humboldt to Jefferson, and the two men became close friends.