Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 9 works by Nathaniel Jocelyn in our catalogue
In short
James Armstrong Thome (1840) is the Nathaniel Jocelyn painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.. After it, the eye goes to Cornelius Vanderbilt (1846) and Denison Olmsted (1791-1859), B. A. 1813, M. A. 1816 (1833). Among the 9 works of Nathaniel Jocelyn in our catalog, these 9 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
Nathaniel Jocelyn rendered this oil on canvas portrait of James Armstrong Thome about 1840. Born in Augusta, Kentucky, Thome was a Presbyterian minister and a dedicated abolitionist. His life was defined by his work as a social reformer, civil rights activist, and educator. Through his ministry and lectures, he became a prominent voice in the movement for emancipation.
In this 1846 portrait, we encounter Cornelius Vanderbilt not as a distant figure of industry, but as a man of quiet, formidable gravity. The composition is a classic bust-length study, positioning him slightly off-center to create a sense of natural, unforced dignity. He faces toward the viewer's left, yet his gaze remains fixed forward, meeting the eye with a steady, unwavering directness. There is a certain weight to his presence,…
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 3 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Nathaniel Jocelyn | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Yale University Art Gallery |
New Haven | 5 | Denison Olmsted (1791-1859), B. A. 1813, M. A. 1816, Mrs. Augustus Russell Street (Caroline Mary Leffingwell) (1790-1877), Reverend Edward Elias Atwater (1816-1887), B.A. 1836, M.A. (Hon.) 1839 |
 National Portrait Gallery |
Washington, D.C. | 3 | James Armstrong Thome, Cornelius Vanderbilt, William Lloyd Garrison |
 Harvard Art Museums |
Cambridge | 1 | Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) |
14 years separate Nathaniel Jocelyn's first and last dated originals shown here, 1833 and 1846: each year has its place below.
Pick a year to see its originals.
Nathaniel Jocelyn rendered this oil on canvas portrait of James Armstrong Thome about 1840. Born in Augusta, Kentucky, Thome was a Presbyterian minister and a dedicated abolitionist. His life was defined by his work as a social reformer, civil rights activist, and educator. Through his ministry and lectures, he became a prominent voice in the movement for emancipation.
More from 1840
In this 1846 portrait, we encounter Cornelius Vanderbilt not as a distant figure of industry, but as a man of quiet, formidable gravity. The composition is a classic bust-length study, positioning him slightly off-center to create a sense of natural, unforced dignity. He faces toward the viewer's left, yet his gaze remains fixed forward, meeting the eye with a steady, unwavering directness. There is a certain weight to his presence,…
More from 1846
James Armstrong Thome (1840), National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1846) and Denison Olmsted (1791-1859), B. A. 1813, M. A. 1816 (1833) come next.
44 years old: James Armstrong Thome dates from 1840, and Nathaniel Jocelyn was born in 1796.
Our catalog holds 9 works by Nathaniel Jocelyn, dated from 1833 to 1846.
Mostly in Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven), National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.) and Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1840: 3 of the 9 works on this page were made then, James Armstrong Thome among them.
On this page, the earliest is Denison Olmsted (1791-1859), B. A. 1813, M. A. 1816 (1833) and the latest Cornelius Vanderbilt (1846).
Oil On Canvas, for 2 of the 9 works on this page.
Denison Olmsted (1791-1859), B. A. 1813, M. A. 1816, Mrs. Augustus Russell Street (Caroline Mary Leffingwell) (1790-1877) and Reverend Edward Elias Atwater (1816-1887), B.A. 1836, M.A. (Hon.) 1839: the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven holds 5 of the works on this page.
An American portrait painter and engraver renowned for his historical depictions of abolitionists and Joseph Cinqué, Nathaniel Jocelyn captured the essence of a pivotal era through his evocative and detailed artistry.
