Object Details
Artist
Sally James Farnham, 1869 - 1943
Sitter
Theodore Roosevelt, 27 Oct 1858 - 6 Jan 1919
Exhibition Label
Born New York City
This bas-relief of Theodore Roosevelt was commissioned by his friend Jacob Riis, a noted journalist and photographer who, at the turn of the twentieth century, advocated for New York City’s disadvantaged tenement population. When Roosevelt served as a city police commissioner between 1895 and 1897, Riis proved to be a valuable source of information because he understood what reforms were needed in the police department. He was also intimately familiar with the harsh realities of the slums.
Sally James Farnham sculpted this bas-relief of President Roosevelt when he was in his second term. Farnham had the chance to sketch the president at an informal cabinet meeting and later made the work for placement in the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House, which Riis established in the 1890s. The original settlement house was sold in 1952, but the organization continues to operate in Long Island City.
Nacido en Ciudad de Nueva York
Este bajorrelieve de Theodore Roosevelt fue un encargo de su amigo Jacob Riis, notable eriodista y fotógrafo que a principios del siglo XX fue defensor de la población que vivía hacinada en los edificios de apartamentos pobres de Nueva York. Cuando Roosevelt fue comisario de la policía entre 1895 y 1897, Riis resultó una valiosa fuente de información, ya que entendía cuáles eran las reformas necesarias en el departamento de policía. También conocía íntimamente la dura realidad de la vida en los arrabales.
Sally James Farnham esculpió este bajorrelieve del presidente Roosevelt durante su segundo término gobernativo. Farnham tuvo la oportunidad de hacer un boceto del presidente durante una reunion informal del gabinete y luego hizo el bajorrelieve para que se colocara en la Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House, establecida por Riis en la década de 1890. El edificio original se vendió en 1952, pero la organización continúa en funciones en la ciudad de Long Island.
Provenance
(Graham Gallery), New York; purchased NPG 1974
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Date
1906
Object number
NPG.74.16
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Bronze relief
Dimensions
Without Mount: 52.7 x 53 x 6.4cm (20 3/4 x 20 7/8 x 2 1/2")
With Mount: 63.5 x 63.5 x 9.5cm (25 x 25 x 3 3/4")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses\Pince-nez
Sculpture\Relief\Bas-relief
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.74.16