John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn (June 22, 1811–November 21, 1877). U.S. Representative from New York and Chancellor of the University of the State of New York Board of Regents, 1868–1877.

This painting likely is the sketch for Johnson's large portrait of John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn that was lost in a fire in the New York State Capitol building in 1911. As reported by the New York Evening Post, April 4, 1911: "Another loss was Eastman Johnson's portrait of Chancellor Pruyn. This was considered one of the finest specimens of Eastman Johnson's work and was valued at a high figure. There is a water-color sketch of the same portrait in the possession of William G. Rice of Albany, and it is likely that it will be loaned to the state in order that a copy may be made from it." A copy by Albany artist George Hughes, featuring the sitter at half length rather than full length, hangs in the New York State Senate lobby today.