Object Details
- Artist
- Anders Leonard Zorn, 18 Feb 1860 - 1920
- Sitter
- Stephen Grover Cleveland, 18 Mar 1837 - 24 Jun 1908
- Exhibition Label
- Grover Cleveland, the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms, vetoed more legislation than any prior president, earning the nickname “Old Veto.” He believed in a “hands-off” government and often rejected bills that favored individual groups. For instance, he vetoed what he thought were unnecessary pension bills for Civil War veterans. After being ousted from office in 1889 by Benjamin Harrison, Cleveland returned to the presidency four years later, but the Panic of 1893 plagued his second term. He had to call on federal troops to suppress labor unrest and did not succeed in restoring the nation’s economy.
- Swedish artist Anders Zorn portrayed numerous statesmen and society figures during his frequent trips to the United States. He painted this portrait in 1899, two years after Cleveland had completed his second term. The sittings took place at the former president’s estate in Princeton, New Jersey, where the artist and subject bantered happily for several days. Cleveland expressed satisfaction with this portrait, declaring, “As for my ugly mug, I think the artist has ‘struck it off’ in great shape.”
- Grover Cleveland, primer presidente que sirvió dos términos no consecutivos, vetó más leyes que ningún presidente anterior, lo que le ganó el apodo de “Old Veto”. Creía que el gobierno debería interferir lo menos posible y rechazaba proyectos de ley que favorecían a grupos específicos. Por ejemplo, vetó proyectos tocantes a las pensiones de los veteranos de la Guerra Civil, juzgándolos innecesarios. Luego de perder la presidencia en 1889 ante Benjamin Harrison, Cleveland regresó al cargo cuatro años más tarde, pero la depresión económica conocida como el Pánico de 1893 azotó su segundo término. Tuvo que recurrir a las tropas federales para contener los disturbios laborales y no logró restaurar la economía.
- El artista sueco Anders Zorn retrató a numerosos estadistas y figuras de sociedad durante sus frecuentes viajes a Estados Unidos. Realizó esta pintura en 1899, dos años después de que Cleveland completara su segundo término. Las sesiones tuvieron lugar en la residencia del expresidente en Princeton, Nueva Jersey, donde el artista y el modelo charlaron amenamente varios días. Cleveland expresó satisfacción con el retrato: “En cuanto a mi cara fea, creo que el artista la captó de maravilla”.
- Provenance
- The sitter; his son, Richard Cleveland, Baltimore; Rev. Thomas G. Cleveland, Milton, Mass.; gift 1977 to NPG
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Reverend Thomas G. Cleveland
- 1899
- Object number
- NPG.77.229
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- Frame: 160 x 129.5 x 12.1cm (63 x 51 x 4 3/4")
- Stretcher: 121.8 × 91.4cm (47 15/16 × 36")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Exhibition
- America's Presidents (Reinstallation September 2017)
- On View
- NPG, West Gallery 210
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
- Printed Material\Book
- Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table
- Architecture\Window
- Costume\Jewelry\Chain
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses\Pince-nez
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Bowtie
- Costume\Jewelry\Watch\Pocket watch
- Stephen Grover Cleveland: Male
- Stephen Grover Cleveland: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- Stephen Grover Cleveland: Politics and Government\Government official\Governor\New York
- Stephen Grover Cleveland: Law and Crime\Police\Sheriff
- Stephen Grover Cleveland: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
- Stephen Grover Cleveland: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Administrator\University administrator\University trustee
- Stephen Grover Cleveland: Politics and Government\Government official\Public official\Mayor\Buffalo, NY
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.77.229
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4c5e2afab-adf8-44a9-aaae-b8b72f3094b6
