Portrait of Commander Lewis Warrington

This portrait shows Lewis Warrington (1782–1851), a Virginian who enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17. In a career lasting more than forty years, Warrington became a nationally renowned officer. He commanded several ships and served briefly as the Secretary of the Navy. During the War of 1812, he received a medal for capturing a British warship. Peale, a Philadelphia portraitist, painted Warrington before his rise to military fame. Warrington wears his official cadet’s uniform, yet his pose is informal. He drapes one arm casually over the back of his chair, and his hair is fashionably tousled. His relaxed appearance reflects changing social norms. By the early 1800s, most young officers had abandoned the powdered wigs that had previously symbolized power and authority. Conservation of this picture was made possible by a generous contribution from an anonymous patron through the Art Champions program.