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George W. Bush

George W. Bush
Usage Conditions Apply
Artist
Robert A. Anderson, born 1946
Sitter
George Walker Bush, born 6 Jul 1946
Date
2008
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 132.4 x 92.7cm (52 1/8 x 36 1/2")
Frame: 152.1 x 111.4cm (59 7/8 x 43 7/8")
Topic
George Walker Bush: Male
George Walker Bush: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter
George Walker Bush: Politics and Government\President of US
George Walker Bush: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Business executive\Oil executive
George Walker Bush: Sports and Recreation\Team owner\Baseball
George Walker Bush: Sports and Recreation\Sports executive\Baseball
George Walker Bush: Politics and Government\Governor\Texas
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of American Fidelity Foundation, J. Thomas and Stefanie Atherton, William S. and Ann Atherton, Dr. Jon C. and Jane G. Axton, Dr. Lee and Sherry Beasley, Thomas A. Cellucci, A. James Clark, Richard H. Collins, Edward and Kaye Cook, Don and Alice Dahlgren, Mr. and Mrs. James L. Easton, Robert Edmund, Robert and Nancy Payne Ellis, Dr. Tom and Cheryl Hewett, Dr. Dodge and Lori Hill, Pete and Shelley Kourtis, Tom and Judy Love, David L. McCombs, Tom and Brenda McDaniel, Herman and LaDonna Meinders, The Norick Family, Kenneth and Gail Ochs, Robert and Sylvia Slater, Richard L. Thurston, Lew and Myra Ward, Dr. James and Susan Wendelken, Jim and Jill Williams
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Object number
NPG.2008.51
Exhibition Label
Forty-third president, 2001–2009
Republican George W. Bush lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore, but became president after a protracted period of ballot recounting, the legitimacy of which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. During his first year in office, the apocalyptic terrorist attacks of 9/11 disrupted the nation’s sense of security and ushered in a new era of war on global terrorism. The Bush administration swiftly mounted military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. During his second term, Bush faced domestic crises that significantly impacted his legacy. His administration’s slow response to the massive devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and to the cataclysmic financial crisis of 2008 caused widespread outrage and sparked interest in change. Bush selected Connecticut portraitist Robert Anderson, with whom he attended Yale University, to create this painting for the National Portrait Gallery. The president requested an informal image, posing in shirtsleeves at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
43er presidente, 2001–2009
El republicano George W. Bush perdió el voto popular ante el demócrata Al Gore, pero logró la presidencia luego de un prolongado recuento de votos cuya legitimidad terminó por decidirse en el Tribunal Supremo. Durante su primer año en el cargo, los horrendos ataques terroristas del 9/11 trastocaron la noción de seguridad en el país e inauguraron una nueva era de guerra contra el terrorismo global. Su administración desplegó rápidamente operaciones militares en Afganistán e Irak. Durante su segundo término, Bush afrontó crisis nacionales que afectaron su legado notablemente. La lenta respuesta de su administración a la devastación del huracán Katrina en 2005 y al cataclismo financiero de 2008 provocó la indignación general y el interés en un cambio de rumbo. Bush seleccionó a Robert Anderson, retratista de Connecticut y antiguo compañero suyo en la Universidad de Yale, para realizar esta pintura destinada a la National Portrait Gallery. El presidente solicitó una imagen informal y posó en mangas de camisa en Camp David, residencia presidencial de descanso en Maryland.
Provenance
Commissioned NPG 2008
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Exhibition
America's Presidents (Reinstallation September 2017)
On View
NPG, West Gallery 210