Object Details
Artist
Adrian Lamb, 1901 - 1988
Copy after
Philip Alexius de László, 1869 - 1937
Sitter
Theodore Roosevelt, 27 Oct 1858 - 6 Jan 1919
Exhibition Label
Twenty-sixth president, 1901–1909
An outsize personality who preached the benefits of the “strenuous life” while also being among themost learned of presidents, Theodore Roosevelt gained national prominence as a civil service reformer, a hero of the Spanish-American War, and a proactive governor of New York. After William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Roosevelt took office and initiated one of American history’s most reform-oriented presidencies. His contributions would include implementing efforts to conserve the nation’s disappearing natural heritage, instituting some of the first significant curbs on the excesses of big business, and building the Panama Canal.
Despite having progressive views on labor and consumer issues, Roosevelt maintained conservative views on a number of social issues. For example, he felt convinced that a declining birthrate among old-stock Americans threatened the nation as a whole and therefore opposed immigration, birth control, and the redefinition of women’s roles. Roosevelt was a fascinating bundle of contradictions, above all as a patrician who realized that unless essential reforms were initiated by government, American democracy was likely to fail.
26o presidente, 1901–1909
Hombre de inmensa personalidad que predicaba los beneficios de la “vida enérgica”, y uno de los presidents más eruditos, Theodore Roosevelt alcanzó prominencia nacional como reformador del servicio civil, héroe de la Guerra Hispano-Estadounidense y proactivo gobernador de Nueva York. Luego del asesinato de William McKinley en 1901, Roosevelt asumió la presidencia y dio inicio a uno de los gobiernos más reformistas en la historia de Estados Unidos. Sus aportaciones incluyen esfuerzos en pro de la conservación del patrimonio natural de la nación, que estaba en vías de desaparecer, algunas de las primeras limitaciones significativas a los excesos de las grandes empresas y la construcción del Canal de Panamá.
A pesar sus ideas progresistas en asuntos laborales y protección del consumidor, Roosevelt era conservador en lo concerniente a diversos problemas sociales. Por ejemplo, estaba convencido de que la disminuida tasa de nacimientos entre los estadounidenses de antiguo linaje era una amenaza para la nación, y por lo tanto se oponía a la inmigración, al control de la natalidad y a la redefinición de los roles femeninos. Roosevelt era un fascinante ser de contradicciones, sobre todo porque, siendo de alta cuna, sabía que a menos que el gobierno iniciara ciertas reformas esenciales, la democracia estadounidense estaba destinada al fracaso.
Provenance
Commissioned by NPG in 1967, accessioned 1968.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Theodore Roosevelt Association
Date
1967, after 1908 original
Object number
NPG.68.28
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
132.7 x 101.6 x 3.8cm (52 1/4 x 40 x 1 1/2")
Frame: 152.4 x 121.3 x 7.6cm (60 x 47 3/4 x 3")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Costume\Dress Accessory\Glove\Gloves
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses\Pince-nez
Equipment\Sports Equipment\Equestrian Gear\Riding Crop
Theodore Roosevelt: Male
Theodore Roosevelt: Politics and Government\Government official\State Legislator\New York
Theodore Roosevelt: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
Theodore Roosevelt: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US
Theodore Roosevelt: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt: Science and Technology\Explorer
Theodore Roosevelt: Politics and Government\Government official\Governor\New York
Theodore Roosevelt: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
Theodore Roosevelt: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Scholar\Historian
Theodore Roosevelt: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Environmentalist
Theodore Roosevelt: Business and Finance\Natural resources commerce\Agriculturist\Rancher
Theodore Roosevelt: Nobel Prize
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.68.28