Frances Cleveland portrait

Frances Folsom Cleveland in white satin and silk illusion. This portrait by Casimir Gregory Stapko is a copy of the original by Anders Leonard Zorn for which she posed in New York while she and the former president awaited his return to the White House in 1893. Mrs. Cleveland often wore sleeveless décolleté gowns, ignoring criticism that she was being immodest and a poor role model for younger women.

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland was done by Casimir Gregory Stapko and is a copy of an earlier portrait by Anders Leonard Zorn. Mrs. Cleveland was the first, and to date only, first lady to be married in the White House, on June 2, 1886, a year into Grover Cleveland's first administration. At 21 years old, she was the youngest First Lady, also serving in that role when her husband was elected a second time to a non-consecutive term in 1893.

Artist: Casimir Gregory Stapko
Medium: painting
Credit: White House Collection/White House Historical Association

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