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Artist
Gardner Cox, 22 Jan 1906 - 14 Jan 1988
Sitter
Robert Francis Kennedy, 20 Nov 1925 - 6 Jun 1968
Date
1968
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 78.1 x 61cm (30 3/4 x 24")
Frame: 105.4 x 88.9 x 8.9cm (41 1/2 x 35 x 3 1/2")
Topic
Robert Francis Kennedy: Male
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\US Senator\New York
Robert Francis Kennedy: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\US Attorney General
Robert Francis Kennedy: Literature\Writer
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Campaign director
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Brother of US President
Robert Francis Kennedy: Congressional Gold Medal
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the artist
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Copyright
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number
NPG.69.54
Exhibition Label
Born Brookline, Massachusetts
In February 1968, weeks before entering the race for U.S. president, Robert F. Kennedy delivered a speech describing the Vietnam War in dire terms. “A total military victory is not within sight or around the corner,” he predicted. “It is probably beyond our grasp.” As a senator (1965–68), he criticized the war. This was despite his previous service in the administrations of his brother John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; both presidents had expanded the United States’ role in the conflict. Pursuing peace at home and abroad became a key theme of Robert F. Kennedy’s brief campaign.
Gardner Cox began this contemplative, casual portrait a week after Kennedy’s aforementioned speech. Shortly after celebrating his hard-fought victory in the California democratic primary, Kennedy was fatally wounded. His assassination shocked the nation and reshaped the election. Cox finished the painting after Kennedy’s death on June 6, 1968.
Nacido en Brookline, Massachusetts
En febrero de 1968, semanas antes de iniciar su campaña para la presidencia de EE.UU., Robert F. Kennedy pronunció un discurso en que describió la Guerra de Vietnam en términos nefastos. “No tenemos una victoria militar total a la vista, ni siquiera cerca”, predijo. “Es probable que no esté a nuestro alcance”. Como senador (1965–68), había criticado la guerra, a pesar de haber participado en los gobiernos de su hermano John F. Kennedy y de Lyndon B. Johnson, quienes ampliaron el rol de EE.UU. en el conflicto. Buscar la paz en el país y en el exterior fue un tema clave de la breve campaña de Robert F. Kennedy.
Gardner Cox empezó este retrato contemplativo e informal una semana después del mencionado discurso. Poco después de celebrar su reñida victoria en la primaria demócrata en California, Kennedy fue herido de muerte. Su asesinato conmocionó a la nación y cambió el curso de las elecciones. Cox terminó la pintura tras la muerte de Kennedy el 6 de junio de 1968.
