Object Details
- Artist
- John Singer Sargent, 12 Jan 1856 - 15 Apr 1925
- Sitter
- Leonard Wood, 9 Oct 1860 - 7 Aug 1927
- Exhibition Label
- Upon earning a medal of honor in 1885 for his service in the campaign against Apache leader Geronimo, Leonard Wood began his military ascent. But it was the War of 1898 that propelled his meteoric rise and that of his friend, Theodore Roosevelt. Together, they founded the First Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, popularly known as the Rough Riders. Their success led to Wood’s appointment as the military governor of Cuba in 1899.
- Although Wood initiated important projects, including a successful campaign to eradicate yellow fever, he ruled with an iron fist and disenfranchised most Cubans. In 1902, Cubans protested in front of Wood’s residence, the governor’s palace, after the United States introduced the Platt Amendment. The amendment stipulated that the end of the U.S. military government was contingent on the ongoing U.S. oversight of Cuban affairs.
- In 1903, John Singer Sargent painted this portrait of Wood in uniform, visually conveying his authority. Later that year, Wood became military governor of Moro Province in the Philippines.
- Tras ganar una medalla de honor en 1885 por su actuación en la campaña contra el líder apache Gerónimo, Leonard Wood comenzó su acenso militar. Pero fue la Guerra de 1898 lo que propulsó su meteórica escalada y la de su amigo, Theodore Roosevelt. Juntos fundaron el Primer Regimiento Voluntario de Caballería, más conocido como Rough Riders (jinetes duros), cuyo éxito le valió a Wood el puesto de gobernador militar de Cuba en 1899.
- Aunque Wood inició proyectos importantes tales como la exitosa campaña para erradicar la fiebre amarilla, gobernó con mano férrea y privó de sus derechos a la mayoría de los cubanos. En 1902, los cubanos protestaron frente a su residencia, el Palacio del Gobernador, a raíz de la imposición de la Enmienda Platt, que estipulaba que el fin del gobierno militar de EE.UU. estaba supeditado a su continua supervisión de los asuntos cubanos.
- En 1903 John Singer Sargent pintó a Wood con su uniforme, señalando visualmente su autoridad. Ese año Wood pasó a ser gobernador militar de la provincia del Moro en Filipinas.
- Provenance
- (Sotheby’s New York, May 22, 1996, lot 30); purchased NPG
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- 1903
- Object number
- NPG.96.50
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 76.5 x 63.8cm (30 1/8 x 25 1/8")
- Frame: 91.4 x 78.7 x 6.4cm (36 x 31 x 2 1/2")
- Place
- United States\District of Columbia\Washington
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Symbols & Motifs\Medal
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Epaulet
- Leonard Wood: Male
- Leonard Wood: Politics and Government\Government official\Governor
- Leonard Wood: Medicine and Health\Physician\Surgeon
- Leonard Wood: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\World War I
- Leonard Wood: Military and Intelligence\Army\Army physician\Army surgeon
- Leonard Wood: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.96.50
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4783f9cd8-decd-4f14-bde0-d96033480c00
