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Clare Boothe Luce

Usage Conditions Apply

Medium: Polychromed terra cotta on graduated wood
Dimensions: With Base: 53.3 x 17.8 x 24.1cm (21 x 7 x 9 1/2"); Without Base: 36.8 x 17.8 x 24.1cm (14 1/2 x 7 x 9 1/2"); Base: 16 x 14.5 x 15.7cm (6 5/16 x 5 11/16 x 6 3/16"); Socle footprint: 15.2 x 38.7cm (6 x 15 1/4")

Topic: Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Female; Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Ambassador; Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Journalism and Media\Magazine editor; Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Connecticut; Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Journalism and Media\Journalist\Columnist; Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Literature\Writer\Novelist; Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Literature\Writer\Playwright; Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce: Presidential Medal of Freedom; Portrait

Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Clare Boothe Luce

Exhibition Label: Born New York City; Clare Boothe Luce first gained notice at Vanity Fair magazine. Married to publishing mogul Henry Luce in 1935, she never held an official position in his enterprises, but she had influence—most memorably with the launch of Life magazine in 1936. She also distinguished herself as a playwright. Her acerbic comedy The Women, featuring an all-female cast, was a great Broadway hit. Turning to politics, Luce served two terms in Congress beginning in 1942. When President Eisenhower named her ambassador to Italy in 1953, a Gallup poll ranked Luce among the world’s most admired women.; Nacida en la ciudad de New York; Clare Boothe Luce se dio a conocer primeramente en la revista Vanity Fair. En 1935 se casó con el magnate publicitario Henry Luce, y aunque nunca ocupó un puesto oficial en las empresas de su marido, sí dejó sentir su influencia, sobre todo en el lanzamiento de la revista Life en 1936. También se distinguió como dramaturga y su incisiva comedia The Women, con un elenco femenino, tuvo gran éxito en Broadway. Luego se dedicó a la política y en 1942 pasó a ocupar un asiento en el Congreso, donde serviría dos términos. Cuando en 1953 el presidente Eisenhower la nombró embajadora en Italia, Luce era una de las mujeres más admiradas del mundo, según lo indica una encuesta de la firma Gallup.
Provenance: Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce [1903-1987]; gift to NPG 1982