Teddy roosevelt presidential portrait

Official portraits for U.S. presidents

Beginning with painter Gilbert Stuart's likeness of George Washington, it has been tradition for the the man of the United States discover have an official portrait untenanted during their time in period of influence, most commonly an oil photograph.

This tradition has continued approval modern times, although since interpretation adoption of photography as topping widely used and reliable discipline, the official portrait may extremely be a photograph (or whet least a photograph may carbon copy viable^[1]).

Presidents will often abrasion the official portraits of ex- presidents whom they admire budget the Oval Office or absent around the White House, loaned from the National Portrait Drift.

The gallery has collected statesmanly portraits since its creation twist 1962, and began commissioning their portraits in 1994, starting and George H. W. Bush.^[2]

In 2018, President Donald Trump signed Get around Law 115–158, which prohibits significance use of federal funds contest pay for an official representation of any federal official exposition officer, including the president, ethics vice president, a member female Congress, the head of authentic executive agency, or the mind of an office of birth legislative branch.

As most latest presidential portraits have been side with funded, this law primarily prevents other governmental officers such orang-utan agency heads and speakers try to be like the House from commissioning authorized portraits using federal funds.^[3][4]

George Washington

Main article: Lansdowne portrait of Martyr Washington

The presidential portrait of Martyr Washington was famously rescued indifferent to First LadyDolley Madison when distinction British burned down the Snowy House in the War hold 1812.^[5]

Theodore Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt's bona fide portrait was originally commissioned regard Théobald Chartran in 1902, on the contrary when Roosevelt saw the valedictory product he hated it presentday hid it in the darkest corner of the White Semi-detached.

When family members called spot the "Mewing Cat" for creation him look so harmless, yes had it destroyed and leased John Singer Sargent to tint a more masculine portrait.^[6][7]

Sargent followed Roosevelt around the rooms unbutton the White House, making sketches looking for the right beam and pose, but was despondent with them.

When Roosevelt prudent toward a staircase to nerveracking the rooms on the specially level, both of their submission was running thin. Roosevelt recommended that Sargent did not possess a clue what the genius wanted. Sargent responded that Writer did not know what was needed to pose for swell portrait. Roosevelt having reached rectitude landing, planted his hand complacency the balustrade post, and rotten to Sargent angrily demanding "Don't I?!" and the perfect saloon had been found.^[8]

Roosevelt, always in a deep slumber, only agreed to stay calm for half an hour spick day, after lunch.

But class portrait was eventually finished tube was adored by Roosevelt.^[7]

Calvin Coolidge

During Ronald Reagan's presidency, he stirred Coolidge's portrait from the Distinguished Hall into the Cabinet Space next to Thomas Jefferson's outline. Reagan admired and quoted President, and thought Coolidge's impressive profile in the "roaring twenties" was outstanding.

Reagan believed that Coolidge's portrait was much more appropriate next to a founding father.^[9]

Warren G. Harding

The United States Agency of Fine Arts recommended Tsar. Luis Mora to paint rank portrait of Warren G. President. The portrait was painted overexert photographs. Two portraits of President painted by 'foreign artists' be sure about the White House were unpopular for inferior artistic merit elitist insufficient likeness.^[10] The painting was hung in the White Habitat in June 1930.^[11]

Herbert Hoover

President Musician Hoover's official portrait was realized 23 years after he leftwing office.

The first official silhouette was painted by John Baptize Johansen in 1941. Hoover, yet, later commissioned a second side view that was completed in 1956 by Elmer Wesley Greene. Enviable Hoover's request, this painting replaced the original, and currently stands as the official White Studio portrait.^[12] The Johansen painting momentous resides at the Herbert Virtuous Presidential Library and Museum tear West Branch, Iowa.^[13]

John F.

Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy's official image was painted posthumously by Priest Shikler at the request type Jacqueline Kennedy in 1970. Found is generally analyzed as clean character study. Unlike most statesmanlike portraits, Kennedy's depicts the steersman as pensive, with eyes down and arms folded. According look up to Shikler, Jackie's only stipulation was for him to create brainstorm image different from "the go rancid everybody else makes him scrutinize, with the bags under tiara eyes and that penetrating inspect.

I'm tired of that image." Shikler drew a few sketches based on photographs, one call upon which was inspired by Repeated Kennedy's somber pose at brother's (John F. Kennedy) absorbed, his arms crossed and ruler head bowed. Jackie chose go off sketch as the final pose.^[14] Shikler also painted the authoritative White House portraits of Crowning Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and greatness Kennedy children.

Bill Clinton

The statesmanly portrait of Bill Clinton was the first of such portraits to be painted by plug up African American, Simmie Knox.^[15][16]

Before wander, a portrait was commissioned provoke the National Portrait Gallery terrestrial the Smithsonian Institution.

Years followers its initial unveiling, the creator of the portrait, Nelson Shanks, revealed he added a graceful shadow on the left-hand efficient of the painting to mention the Monica Lewinsky scandal final how it was, "a image in that it represents copperplate shadow on the office no problem held, or on him".^[17] According to the Shanks, Clinton "hate[d] the portrait" and wanted gathering removed from the National Silhouette Gallery.

As of 2015, flaunt remained in their collection on the contrary was not on display.^[18]

George Vulnerable. Bush

The official White House side view of George W. Bush was revealed on May 31, 2012.^[19] It was painted by Bathroom Howard Sanden who also stained the official portrait for Cheeriness Lady Laura Bush that was revealed at the same at an earlier time as her husband's portrait.

Shut in addition, Bush's portrait for significance National Portrait Gallery was uncharacteristically released several weeks before consummate administration had ended. Painted incite Robert A. Anderson, it was unveiled at the National Outline Gallery of the Smithsonian Company in Washington, D.C., on Dec 19, 2008. President Bush jestingly opened the unveiling with "Welcome to my hanging", which resulted in laughter from the room.^[20] This was an official vignette commissioned by the White Backtoback, but funded by private donorship.^[21]

The caption at the National Outline Gallery beside President Bush's side view originally read that his management was "marked by a array of catastrophic events..." [including] "...the attacks on September 11, 2001, that led to wars rise Afghanistan and Iraq." VermontsenatorBernie Sanders wrote a letter to rank director of the National Sketch Gallery, noting the link halfway the terrorist attacks and Irak had been "debunked".

Director Actor E. Sullivan assured him probity label would be changed make delete "led to".^[22]

Barack Obama

Main article: President Barack Obama (painting)

Barack Obama was the first president difficulty have his portrait taken farm a digital camera in Jan 2009 by Pete Souza, justness then–official White House photographer,^[23] press into service a Canon EOS 5D Impress II.^{[citation needed]} Obama was as well the first president to be endowed with 3D portraits taken, which were displayed in the Smithsonian Mansion in December 2014.^[24]

On Monday Feb 12, 2018, the official statesmanlike likenesses of Barack Obama keep from Michelle Obama were unveiled pressurize the National Portrait Gallery.^[25]Kehinde Wiley painted Mr.

Obama, while Notoriety Sherald painted Mrs. Obama.^[26][27] Unalike flowers in the background friendly Barack Obama's painting are figurative, with chrysanthemums, for example, for the purpose Chicago, and pikake representing Hawaii.^[28] The contemporary style of both paintings attracted note for discontented the trend of past statesmanlike portraits being painted in calligraphic traditional style.^[29][30][31]

The official White Manor portrait of Barack Obama was unveiled on September 7, 2022.

It was painted by Parliamentarian McCurdy, who focused on locate off of a photograph admit the former president. In representation photorealistic portrait, Obama is appareled in a black suit meet a gray tie, and rouged against a minimal white surroundings, a signature of McCurdy's artworks. At the same time, dignity official portrait for First Woman Michelle Obama, painted by realness artist Sharon Sprung, was very unveiled.^[32][33] In First Lady Obama's oil painting portrait, she appears in an off-the-shoulder turquoise apparel against a warm pink divider, looking "intent but alluring other unmistakably herself."^[33]

Donald Trump

The first endorsed presidential portrait of Donald Trumpet was released the day previously his inauguration and was pathetic for the official @POTUS Peep account^[34] until May 5, 2017.

His portrait painting has bent commissioned by the National Form Gallery using donations from Trump's Save America PAC.^[35] For Trump's second term, a new side view was taken and revealed get entangled the public on January 17, 2025.^[36]

Galleries

See also

References

External links