American Art Collaborative

As his reputation grew, the prices for John Wood Dodge's work rose from $11.50 to $75.00. Largely self-taught, Dodge also practiced photography in his later years. This early portrait of the future 11th president of the United States may date to 1824, the year of Polk's marriage to Sarah Childress. The portrait shows Polk waist-length looking slightly to the right with bushy fair hair. He wears a black coat, white vest, white shirt and high chin collar. A lock of brown hair can be found on the reverse and does not appear to be that of the sitter.