Newly Discovered Portrait of America’s First Black President: After Horace H. Pippin (1888–1946)

Distorted, of course, but discernible: the thin red-brown lipspressed firm, the mole rising beside his nose, the yellow-brownskin and bituminous eyes bright, afire under a smooth browand the silvering crinkle of grey-black hair, the slender face.

In the background, the white columns of the South Portico,the green lawn, the green leaf-burdened trees on either side,a seam of red roses, each one a curl of paint, and beneaththe eaves of an oak (like Hicks’s Peaceable Kingdom)black soldiers in puttees and Adrian helmets lofting

Old Glory and holding French Lebels, while away from them,under the portico, behind a pulpit, a black preacher liftshis hands as if to mop a brow or beseech, and smaller stilland almost hidden under the limbs of a magnolia, four littlebrown girls in Sunday dresses, each carrying a white rose.

Each figure on the same flat plane, no depth, no distinction, novanishing point, no linear perspective. Enter like history,anywhere. One easily imagines his brush lifted,right hand cupped in the left, struggling to get every detail—supposed and then composed—flags, the diamonded tie,

dignity, pride, solemnity. The four little girls do not lookat one another. The preacher addresses a crowd no one sees.The soldiers peer outward into a far distance. Onlythe key figure stares outward and refuses to deflect our regard.Unsigned, but as you can see, surely his work,

the exacting brushstrokes, the elegant composition,the way the image reaches beyond the canvas, rising, lifted up.We expect vigorous bidding for this unknown work, well-preserved,prophetic with a primitive’s engaging simplicity—certainlythe jewel of any collection, a sure investment, appreciating in value.