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Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland
Artist
Anders Leonard Zorn, 18 Feb 1860 - 1920
Sitter
Stephen Grover Cleveland, 18 Mar 1837 - 24 Jun 1908
Date
1899
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Frame (Verified): 160 x 129.5 x 12.1cm (63 x 51 x 4 3/4")
Stretcher: 121.8 × 91.4cm (47 15/16 × 36")
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\Governor\New York
Stephen Grover Cleveland: Law and Crime\Police\Sheriff
Stephen Grover Cleveland: Politics and Government\President of US
Stephen Grover Cleveland: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\University administrator\University trustee
Stephen Grover Cleveland: Politics and Government\Public official\Mayor\Buffalo, NY
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Reverend Thomas G. Cleveland
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.77.229
Exhibition Label
Twenty-second and twenty-fourth president, 1885–1889 and 1893–1897
Grover Cleveland, the only 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.”
22o y 24o presidente, 1885–1889 y 1893–1897
Grover Cleveland, único 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 a menudo rechazaba proyectos de ley que favorecían a grupos específicos. Por ejemplo, vetó lo que estimaba eran leyes innecesarias tocantes a las pensiones de los veteranos de la Guerra Civil. Luego de perder la presidencia en 1889 a manos de 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 del país. El artista sueco Anders Zorn retrató a numerosos estadistas y figuras de sociedad durante sus frecuentes viajes a Estados Unidos. Pintó este retrato 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 alegremente por varios días. Cleveland expresó satisfacción con el retrato y declaró: “En cuanto a mi cara fea, creo que el artista ‘la compuso’ bastante bien”.
Provenance
The sitter; his son, Richard Cleveland, Baltimore; Rev. Thomas G. Cleveland, Milton, Mass.; gift 1977 to NPG
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Exhibition
America's Presidents (Reinstallation September 2017)
On View
NPG, West Gallery 210