Object Details
Artist
Rosemarie Sloat, born 17 Mar 1929
Sitter
Ethel Merman, 16 Jan 1909 - 15 Feb 1984
Exhibition Label
Born Queens, New York
In 1930 the Gershwin musical Girl Crazy opened on Broadway, and toward the end of the first act, an unknown singer named Ethel Merman mesmerized the audience with her rendition of “I Got Rhythm,” in the course of which she held a high-C for sixteen bars. As Merman later put it, by the time the applause died, “a star had been born. Me.” Over the next five decades, her booming voice and brassy style were the main attraction of some of the most successful Broadway musicals ever, including Anything Goes, Gypsy, and Annie Get Your Gun—whose score included her trademark song, “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Of her singing technique, Merman once said, “I just stand up and holler and hope that my voice holds out.” This painting shows Merman dressed for the title role in Annie Get Your Gun.
Provenance
The artist; purchased 1971 NPG.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Ethel Merman
Date
1971
Object number
NPG.71.50
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil and acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 227.3 x 126.4 x 3.2cm (89 1/2 x 49 3/4 x 1 1/4")
Frame: 233.7 x 146.1 x 10.2cm (92 x 57 1/2 x 4")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Weapon\Gun\Rifle
Interior\Performing Arts\Theatrical\Stage
Costume\Headgear\Hat\Cowboy hat
Ethel Merman: Female
Ethel Merman: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Theater\Stage actor
Ethel Merman: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer
Ethel Merman: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Movie actor
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.71.50