A unique temporary exhibit arrives at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, connecting the “Great Humanitarian” former president and his wife to an appreciation for arts and the natural world.

Exquisite Miniatures by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist, Produced by David J. Wagner, L.L.C. is a series of miniature paintings, with many measured less than nine square inches. These works of art are designed for visitors to take an up-close look and admire the pieces under a magnifying glass, revealing even more detail. The exhibit features 50 signature paintings including landscapes, portraits, still lifes, wildlife, and more.

Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou Henry appreciated fine art, collecting many pieces throughout their marriage. The Hoovers were also nature and wildlife enthusiasts; Lou Henry was active in the development of the Girl Scouts of America, while President Hoover was a passionate fisherman. The two developed Camp Rapidian, a summer camp used as a presidential retreat along the Rapidian River in Virginia.

Thomas Schwartz, PhD, director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, says this exhibit offers an unparalleled experience to appreciate extraordinary details on canvas and learn how it connect to the Hoovers’ story.

“President Hoover’s attention to detail was resolute through his decades of humanitarian service,” Schwartz said. “Hosting an exhibit that highlights astonishing elements will lead visitors to take a closer look at the artists’ body of work, through themes that align with the Hoovers in numerous ways.”

The artists, Wes and Rachelle Siegrist, are an American husband and wife team who mesmerize viewers with miniature paintings so exquisitely crafted that they are often mistaken for tiny photographs.

The Siegrists are members of the Miniature Artists of America, the Miniature Art Society of Florida, the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C, the Cider Painters of America, and the Hilliard Society of England. They are the authors of the world’s first standard definition of miniature art adopted by the Association of Miniaturist Artists, and have been referred to as “World Ambassadors for Miniature Art.”