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Babe Ruth

Portrait Gallery

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International media Interoperability Framework
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Object Details

Artist

William Auerbach-Levy, 1889 - 1964

Sitter

George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, 6 Feb 1895 - 17 Aug 1948

Exhibition Label

In this caricature by William Auerbach-Levy, whose drawings appeared in newspapers and magazines like The New Yorker, Esquire, and Collier’s, the trademark pinstripes on Babe Ruth’s jersey and pants were an accurate depiction of the Yankees uniform. Even the artist’s exaggeration of Ruth’s top-heavy physique was a credible depiction of the slugger, who stood six feet, two inches and weighed approximately 210 pounds at his ideal weight (which he rarely maintained). While Ruth’s spindly legs were vulnerable to soreness and injury, especially in his later years as a player, he had enough upper-body strength to keep hitting home runs into the stands until his retirement at age forty.
En esta caricatura de William Auerbach-Levy, cuyos dibujos se publicaban en periódicos y revistas como The New Yorker, Esquire y Collier’s, las típicas rayas de la camiseta y los pantalones de Babe Ruth imitan con precisión el uniforme de los Yankees. Incluso resulta creíble que el artista exagere las amplias proporciones de la parte superior del cuerpo, pues el bateador medía seis pies dos pulgadas y pesaba unas 210 libras en su punto ideal (que rara vez mantenía). Si bien sus piernas delgaduchas lo hacían propenso a dolores y lesiones, sobre todo en sus últimos años de carrera, la fuerza de su tronco le bastó para seguir enviando jonrones a las gradas hasta los cuarenta años, cuando se retiró.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Date

c. 1929

Object number

NPG.89.99

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Drawing

Medium

Gouache, graphite and ink on paper

Dimensions

Sheet: 28 × 21.7 cm (11 × 8 9/16")
Mount: 30.5 × 22.2 cm (12 × 8 3/4")
Mat: 45.7 x 35.6 cm (18 x 14")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

Data Source

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

George Herman ("Babe") Ruth: Male
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth: Sports\Athlete\Baseball
Portrait

Metadata Usage

Usage conditions apply

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4d01bb9ab-5d1e-42f6-a8a7-7e368eda68d3

Record ID

npg_NPG.89.99

Discover More

Babe Ruth at Yankee Stadium

Preserving Baseball History: Art, Artifacts, and Memorabilia

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