File:Theodore Roosevelt By John Singer Sargent, 1903.jpg
"In Roosevelt's official presidential portrait Sargent seized upon two of the President's most salient characteristics, physical vitality and a self-assurance bordering on arrogance, and he painted a tour de force of nuanced blacks, grays, browns, and creams. . . .
"The famous expatriate artist arrived in America in January 1903 and soon received a letter from Roosevelt inviting him to live in the White House during the month of February to work on the portrait. . . .
"Together [Sargent and Roosevelt] toured the White House while Sargent looked for proper light and a good pose. . . . As Roosevelt led the way upstairs, so the story goes, he said, 'The trouble with you Sargent, is that you don't know what you want.' 'No,' replied the artist, "the trouble, Mr. President, is that you don't know what a pose means.' Roosevelt turned sharply back, grasped the newel-post and snapped, 'Don't I!' 'Don't move an inch. You've got it now,' responded Sargent. . . . .
"Sargent formalized the pose as an official portrait demands, but the highly colored face and hand bring the painting to vivid life. . . . The expression--a near scowl with narrowed eyes focused on the view--and the vigorously modeled head compel attention and respect."
http://www.whitehouseresearch.org/assetbank-whha/action/viewAsset?id=134
-
Remastered color -
low resolution jpg -
low resolution gif
|
This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason:
The official position taken by the Wikimedia Foundation is that "faithful reproductions of two-dimensional public domain works of art are public domain".
This photographic reproduction is therefore also considered to be in the public domain in the United States. In other jurisdictions, re-use of this content may be restricted; see Reuse of PD-Art photographs for details. | ||||
