Object Details
Artist
Philip Alexius de László, 1869 - 1937
Sitter
Adolph Simon Ochs, 1858 - 1935
Exhibition Label
Born Cincinnati, Ohio
Despite fierce competition from the sensationalist “yellow press” during the War of 1898 (Spanish-American War), Adolph Ochs succeeded in making the New York Times one of the world’s leading newspapers. Having folded and delivered papers for the Knoxville Chronicle in his youth, he possessed a strong work ethic that helped pave the way to new opportunities.
At age twenty, Ochs took charge of the Chattanooga Times, and in 1896, before he turned forty, he paid $75,000 for the New York Times, whose circulation had dropped to 9,000 subscribers. While his investment was a risk, Ochs foresaw “an independent newspaper, entirely fearless, devoted to the public welfare without regard to individual advantage or ambition, the claims of party politics or personal prejudice or predilection.”
Artist Philip de László, who traveled between Europe and the United States, painted this portrait of Ochs in New York City.
Nacido en Cincinnati, Ohio
A pesar de la reñida competencia de la “prensa amarilla” durante la Guerra de 1898 (Guerra Hispano-Estadounidense), Adolph Ochs logró hacer del New York Times uno de los principales periódicos del mundo. Ochs, quien comenzó de adolescente doblando y repartiendo diarios para el Knoxville Chronicle, tenía una ética laboral sólida que le ayudó a abrir camino a nuevas oportunidades.
A sus 20 años se hizo cargo del Chattanooga Times y en 1896, antes de cumplir los 40, pagó $75,000 por el New York Times, cuya circulación se había reducido a 9,000 suscriptores. Aunque su inversión era un riesgo, Ochs vislumbró “un periódico independiente, dedicado al bienestar público sin considerar ventajas ni ambiciones individuales, exigencias de la política partidista ni prejuicios o predilecciones personales”.
Philip de László, quien viajaba entre Europa y Estados Unidos, pintó este retrato de Ochs en la ciudad de Nueva York.
Provenance
The sitter; by descent in the Ochs/Sulzberger Family; gift to NPG 2011
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift from the Ochs / Sulzberger Family
Date
1926
Object number
NPG.2011.142
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 88.9 x 76.2cm (35 x 30")
Frame: 127.6 x 94.3 x 6cm (50 1/4 x 37 1/8 x 2 3/8")
Place
United States\New York\Kings\New York City
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
20th Century Americans: 1900-1930
On View
NPG, South Gallery 322
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Adolph Simon Ochs: Male
Adolph Simon Ochs: Arts and Culture\Journalism and Media\Newspaper publisher
Adolph Simon Ochs: Social Welfare and Reform\Philanthropist
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.2011.142