Presidential portrait

An Official Presidential Portrait is a portrait painted of a President of the United States of America. A tradition started with Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, it has carried through to modern times. Presidents often display the official portraits of Presidents they admire (on loan from the National Gallery) in the Oval Office, or around the White House.

History

George Washington

First Lady Dolley Madison famously rescued the George Washington portrait when the British burned down the White House in the War of 1812. [ [http://www.whitehousehistory.org/04/subs/04_b_1812.html The White House Historical Association > Classroom ] ]

Theodore Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt's official portrait was originally commissioned to Theobald Chartran in 1902, but when Roosevelt saw the final product he hated it and hid it in the darkest corner of the White House. When family members called it the "Mewing Cat" for making him look so harmless, he had it destroyed and hired John Singer Sargent to paint a more masculine portrait. [ [http://www.jssgallery.org/Paintings/President_Theodore_Roosevelt.htm#Pic John Singer Sargent's President Theodore Roosevelt ] ]

Sargent followed Roosevelt around the rooms of the White House, making sketches looking for the right lighting and pose, but was unhappy with them. When Roosevelt headed toward a staircase to try the rooms on the second level, both of their patience was running thin. Roosevelt suggested that Sargent didn't have a clue what he [Roosevelt] wanted. Sargent responded that Roosevelt didn't know what was needed to pose for a portrait. Roosevelt having reached the landing, planted his hand on the balustrade post, and turned to Sargent angrily demanding "Don't I!" And the perfect pose had been found.

Roosevelt, always active, only agreed to stay still for half an hour a day, after lunch. But the portrait was eventually finished, and adored by Roosevelt. [ [http://www.jssgallery.org/Paintings/President_Theodore_Roosevelt.htm#Pic John Singer Sargent's President Theodore Roosevelt ] ]

Bill Clinton

The Presidential portrait of Bill Clinton was the first of such portraits to be painted by an African American. [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040614-2.html President Bush Welcomes President Clinton and Senator Clinton ] ]

ee also

List of Presidents of the United States, where the pictures provided are primarily Official Presidential Portraits

References