Forgotten Legacy:
Judicial Portraits by Cornelia Adèle Fassett
Introduction
Cornelia Adèle Fassett, 1865-1880.
Brady-Handy photograph collection, Library of Congress
While many female artists of the 19th century depicted scenes from everyday life, Cornelia Adèle Fassett (1831-1898) gained recognition as a painter of presidents and politicians. Over her distinguished career, Fassett also captured the likeness of nine Supreme Court Justices. Employing popular styles of the time, she sought to depict the Justices as lifelike as possible. Her attention to detail would later assist her in executing one of her most well-known works, The Florida Case before the Electoral Commission. The composition, completed in the grand manner of history painting, includes more than 250 individual portraits.
Unless otherwise noted, all images are from the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States.