Object Details
Artist
Edward Jean Steichen, 27 Mar 1879 - 25 Mar 1973
Sitter
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr., 17 Apr 1837 - 31 Mar 1913
Exhibition Label
Born Hartford, Connecticut
In the early twentieth century, when business leaders became the focus of national attention, J. Pierpont Morgan was the most powerful and influential of those American financiers. His banking empire had controlling or major interests in key railroads and industries, including U.S. Steel and General Electric. A directive from Morgan could influence the stock market, which happened in the Panic of 1907, when he lent his prestige and collateral to help stabilize Wall Street. His gift was for consolidating businesses to make them more efficient and profitable. But Morgan also got along with “trust buster” president Theodore Roosevelt, who sought to regulate concentrations of wealth and power rather than break them up.
Morgan rejected this photograph of him—which was later published to great acclaim—undoubtedly because of its fierce expression and the knife-shaped reflection on the arm of the chair.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Date
1903 (printed 1906)
Object number
NPG.76.84
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© The Estate of Edward Steichen / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Type
Photograph
Medium
Photogravure on paper
Dimensions
Image: 20.8 × 15.7 cm (8 3/16 × 6 3/16")
Sheet: 30.7 × 21.1 cm (12 1/16 × 8 5/16")
Mat: 55.9 × 40.7 cm (22 × 16")
Place
United States\New York\Kings\New York
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Costume\Jewelry
Interior
Home Furnishings\Furniture
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Costume\Jewelry\Chain
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Necktie
Costume\Jewelry\Watch\Pocket watch
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.: Male
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.: Business and Finance\Financier
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.: Business and Finance\Banker
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.: Arts and Culture\Patron of the arts
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.: Arts and Culture\Visual Arts\Art collector
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.: Social Welfare and Reform\Philanthropist
John Pierpont Morgan, Sr.: Arts and Culture\Visual Arts\Visual arts administrator\Art museum administrator\Art museum trustee
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.76.84