THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
33 
May I ask, Sir, that you will take measures to give the portrait such place 
in the Institute as may exhibit it to the best advantage, and thereby gratify 
the wishes of many of our fellow citizens whose desire it is to see it. 
I venture to express the opinion that as a work of art, apart from the 
high consideration in which the original is justly held, it may favorably be 
compared with any similar work to be found in the United States. 
I tender to you, Sir, assurance of my high consideration and respect. 
John Tyler. 
Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, 
President, National Institute. 
June 22, 1842. 
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 
2 1st instant, tendering through me to the National Institute Mr. Healy’s 
picture of Monsieur Guizot, Prime Minister of France and the Biographer 
of Genl. Washington. 
The Institute, fully appreciating the merit of this painting, acknowl- 
edges its high obligations to you for this valuable addition to its collection, 
and I beg to assure you, Sir, that it will take pleasure in exhibiting to the 
best advantage the portrait of a man esteemed by the American people, 
equally for his eminent talents as a statesman & distinguished ability and 
impartiality as an historian. 
I have the honor to be with the highest consideration & respect, Sir, 
Your most obt. servt. 
J. R. Poinsett 
Prest. Nat. Inst. 
To Jno. Tyler, 
President of the United States. 
This noteworthy portrait, which came into the possession of 
the Smithsonian Institution in 1862, was painted in 1841, and 
measures 94 inches high by 68 inches wide. 
PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT JOHN TYLER. By George P. A. Mealy. 
PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM C. PRESTON, U. S. Senator from South 
Carolina, 1833-1843. By George P. A. Healy. 
The interesting circumstances connected with the execution 
of these excellent portraits are explained in an extract from 
the records of the Institute, and in two letters from Mr. Healy, 
as follows : 
At a meeting of the Institute, on December 12, 1842, Col. 
J. J. Abert made the following announcement: “During the 
