The Washington, DC institution acquired a rare daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of fourth US president James Madison, for $456,000.

The Washington, DC institution acquired a rare daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of fourth US president James Madison, for $456,000.

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in Washington, DC, has acquired the earliest known photograph of a US first lady. The quarter-plate daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, ...

The quarter-plate daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of fourth US president James Madison, dates from around 1846. It joins a host of other early photographic portraits in the NPG ...

James Madison - known as the father of the US constitution - served as president from 1809 to 1817. The photograph of his wife joins the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of around 230 ...

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) has acquired the earliest known photograph of a US First Lady. The quarter-plate daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison (1768-1849 ...

The final price for the Madison photograph, taken a decade after James died, made it the most valuable daguerreotype sold publicly at an auction.

Lizzo plays President James Madison's crystal flute in the flute vault at the Library of Congress. (photo courtesy Library of Congress) ...