To prepare for this portrait, Shannon LaNier donned a black coat and wrapped a thick, layered collar around his neck, a suit matching the one worn by Thomas Jefferson in the famous 18th century painting. The Houston news anchor was featured in an ongoing series by British photographer Drew Gardner. The series recreates photographs, paintings and other images of historical figures with the help of their descendants. Lanier's photograph is particularly significant because he is the sixth generation grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, the slave of the third president of the United States, whom he forced to bear his children.
Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, and his sixth generation grandson, actor Shannon Lanier
The Descendants project began about 15 years ago when Gardner's mother mentioned that he looked like her grandfather. And although in this project the heirs do not look like their relatives, the author notes that this is not mandatory when looking for descendants. “I’m not saying they look like their ancestors,” he notes. "I want to provoke conversations that will spark people's interest in history." From the very beginning, he photographed relatives of Frederick Douglass, Lisa del Giocondo, Berthe Morisot and Napoleon.
Gioconda (Mona Lisa, Lisa del Giocondo) and her 15th knee granddaughter Irina Guicciardini Strozzi
Gardner's criteria for choosing personalities are strict: a historical figure must be widely known to the public and have a significant impact that goes beyond mere popularity. The next step involves finding paintings, photographs, and other realistic depictions of a person, which excludes a significant number of perspectives - for example, Gardner hoped to recreate an image of Pocahontas, but soon realized that there was only woodcut. The photographer then searches for living family members, sometimes working over a dozen generations to find someone within 15 years of the ancestor's age. Often, with the help of museums and other preservation agencies, he contacts a relative to ask if they would agree to pose for a portrait.
To preserve the integrity of the original image, whenever possible, the costumes and props are vintage. However, some elements, such as the massive rusty chains in the background of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's portrait of 1857, no longer exist. When genuine items are not available, Gardner recreates them physically or digitally.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, British engineer, and his 3rd generation grandson Isambard Thomas
However, the situation was different for Lanier's portrait. Although he is dressed like Jefferson, his look is different because he ditched the wig worn by a distant relative. “I didn't want to become Jefferson,” he said. Lanier said about his experience: “Jefferson may have been a founding father, but I am the image of what his family has become. You look at my family and see all the colors there, as you will also see in many families who have gone through slavery. "
