About the Man

James Madison was the 4th President of the United States was President from 1809-1817. He is one of the most distinguished statesmen in the history of our country, yet his 8 years in office are commonly considered as a blemish. The most famous event from his time in office was during the war of 1812, when the British besieged Washington D.C., forcing the occupants to flee the White House and watch as the British sent it up in flames.

The full quote I used for this painting is taken from a letter written by Madison post-Presidency in which he stated “A popular Government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

James Madison was a the major force in composing our Constitution and a major player in administering it. Nearly 20 years after leaving office, he died a peaceful death in 1838.

With this piece, I worked at minimizing overall contrast in all areas except the point of emphasis. I also tried to do away with outlines completely.

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