Object Details
Artist
Henry Koerner, 28 Aug 1915 - 4 Jul 1991
Sitter
Maria Callas, 2 Dec 1923 - 16 Sep 1977
Exhibition Label
Born New York City
In a postwar opera world that needed stars, Maria Callas was said to have “restored the ancient luster to the title of prima donna.” Born in New York and raised in Greece, Callas, by sheer force of personality and artistry, rejuvenated the public’s interest in this classic music genre. She attracted renewed attention to the bel canto works of Bellini and Donizetti and influenced the next generation of singers, including Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland, and Marilyn Horne.
Commissioned for the cover of Time magazine in 1956, this portrait by Henry Koerner was derived from sittings with Callas at her home in Milan, Italy.
Nacida en la Ciudad de Nueva York
En el mundo operístico de la posguerra, ávido de estrellas, se dice que Maria Callas “devolvió su antiguo esplendor al título de prima donna”. Nacida en Nueva York y criada en Grecia, Callas revitalizó el interés en dicho género musical con la sola fuerza de su personalidad y su arte. Generó una renovada atracción por las obras belcantistas de Bellini y Donizetti, y ejerció gran influencia en la siguiente generación de cantantes, incluidas Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland y Marilyn Horne.
Encargado para la portada de la revista Time, este retrato de Henry Koerner se basó en sesiones con Callas en su casa de Milán, Italia.
Collection Description
In 1978, Time magazine donated approximately eight hundred works of original cover art to the National Portrait Gallery. The museum is dedicated to telling the stories of individuals who have shaped the United States, and the Time Collection—featuring prominent international figures and events—enriches our understanding of the United States in a global context.
En 1978, la revista Time donó a la National Portrait Gallery cerca de 800 obras de arte originales creadas para sus portadas. Nuestro museo se dedica a narrar la historia de figuras que han contribuido a forjar el desarrollo de Estados Unidos, y es así que la Colección Time, que incluye retratos de importantes personalidades internacionales, nos ayuda a comprender mejor a nuestra nación en un contexto global.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine; frame conserved with funds from the Smithsonian Women's Committee
Date
1956
Object number
NPG.78.TC271
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© Henry Koerner
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 55.9 x 71.1 x 2.5cm (22 x 28 x 1")
Frame: 79.7 x 94.9 x 7.6cm (31 3/8 x 37 3/8 x 3")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
American Winners: Athletes and Entertainers Who Shaped the Nation
On View
NPG, West Gallery 250
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Costume\Jewelry\Earring
Personal Attribute\Hairstyle
Maria Callas: Female
Maria Callas: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer\Opera singer
Maria Callas: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer\Soprano
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.78.TC271