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Jim Brown

Jim Brown
Usage Conditions Apply
Artist
Henry Koerner, 1915 - 1991
Sitter
James Nathaniel Brown, born 17 Feb 1936
Date
1965
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 45.7 x 32.4 x 2.5cm (18 x 12 3/4 x 1")
Frame: 56.5 x 43.2 x 5.1cm (22 1/4 x 17 x 2")
Topic
Exterior\Sports arena
Equipment\Sports Equipment\Football
James Nathaniel Brown: Male
James Nathaniel Brown: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Football
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© Henry Koerner
Object number
NPG.78.TC261
Exhibition Label
Born St. Simons Island, Georgia
On the gridiron, Cleveland Browns star fullback Jim Brown was sometimes likened to Superman. During his pro football career (1957–65), Brown’s strength, speed, and agility made him all but unstoppable as he powered his way over, around, or through his opponents’ defenses. As one lineman noted, the only way to tackle Brown was “to hold on and wait for help.” Brown’s versatility also made him a constant threat. Besides exceeding the 1,000-yards-rushing mark for seven out of nine seasons and ultimately scoring more than 100 rushing touchdowns, Brown caught passes, returned kickoffs, and even threw the ball for an occasional touchdown. Although his NFL records have largely been surpassed, experts continue to rank Brown as one of the greatest ball carriers of all time.
Brown’s reputation off the field was more complicated. He was arrested at least six times for assault, though he was never convicted of a major crime.
Nacido en St. Simons Island, Georgia
Jim Brown, corredor estrella de los Browns de Cleveland, solía ser comparado con Supermán en el campo de fútbol. Durante su carrera profesional (1957–65), fue prácticamente imparable, arremetiendo con fuerza, velocidad y agilidad contra las defensas de sus oponentes. De hecho, como observó un jugador defensivo, la única forma de derribar a Brown era “aguantar y esperar ayuda”. Su versatilidad lo hacía una amenaza constante. Además de sobrepasar la marca de las 1,000 yardas de carrera en siete de nueve temporadas y anotar más de 100 touchdowns por tierra, Brown atrapaba pases, devolvía patadas iniciales e incluso hizo touchdowns por aire. Aunque sus récords de la NFL ya han sido superados, los expertos aún lo sitúan como uno de los grandes corredores de todos los tiempos.
La fama de Brown fuera del juego fue más complicada. Estuvo arrestado unas seis veces por agresión, aunque nunca resultó convicto de delitos graves.
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.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Exhibition
Champions
On View
NPG, South Gallery 341 Mezzanine