President William Howard Taft

Artist: Anders Leonard Zorn
Date of Work: 1911
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Credit: White House Collection/White House Historical Association

This portrait of William Howard Taft was painted by Swedish artist Anders Leonard Zorn in 1911, during Taft's third year in office. The picture was place in the White House while Taft was still president, in 1912. Taft sat for Zorn in the Blue Room, which Taft's predecessor Theodore Roosevelt had recently remodeled. Taft had been a judge and served in the Cabinet prior to his presidency, which began March 4, 1909 and ended March 4, 1913. He is the only president to subsequently serve on the Supreme Court after his presidency. Taft was Chief Justice from 1921 until 1930.