Lee Daniels’ The Butler
2012
Based on the incredible life of White House Butler Eugene Allen, Lee Daniels' The Butler offers a portrait of an extraordinary man who served eight presidents. To help the set designers recreate the White House across multiple presidencies, the White House Historical Association provided images for set decoration and assisted with research inquiries.
Gallery
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A high-resolution file of the painting, Eastport and Passamaquoddy Bay (ca. 1854) was provided to the production company for the film’s set decoration.
Credit: White House Collection/White House Historical Association
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This still from Lee Daniels’ The Butler shows the Cross Hall.
Credit: Courtesy of Tim Galvin
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A high-resolution file of the portrait of Ulysses S. Grant by Henry Ulke was provided to the production company for the film’s set decoration.
Credit: White House Collection/White House Historical Association
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This still from Lee Daniels’ The Butler shows the State Dining Room.
Credit: Courtesy of Tim Galvin
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A high-resolution file of the portrait of Abraham Lincoln by George Peter Alexander Healy (1869) was provided to the production company for the film’s set decoration.
Credit: White House Collection/White House Historical Association
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A high-resolution file of the painting, The President's House by an Unknown Artist was provided to the production company for the film’s set decoration.
Credit: White House Collection/White House Historical Association
About the Process
Explore the gallery above to view some of the artwork used on set and stills from the film. Learn more about process of creating the White House on set from the film's Set Decorator, Diane Lederman's article "Sets and Locations: The White House Recreated" published in The White House and the Movies (# 39).
How to Work With Us
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