Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)

1920

Terracotta

Overall: 20 x 12 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (50.8 x 31.8 x 24.1 cm)

Gift of the artist

1959.95

The twenty-sixth president of the United States, born in New York, was the son of Theodore Roosevelt Sr., and Martha (Bullock) Roosevelt. The subject graduated from Harvard in 1880. Thereafter he studied law and soon entered politics, being elected to the state assembly in 1882. From 1889 to 1895 Roosevelt was state civil service commissioner and from 1895 to 1897 was police commissioner of New York City. After serving briefly as assistant secretary of the navy, he accepted the rank of lieutenant colonel in a volunteer corps and won nationwide attention as the daring leader of the "Rough Riders" in Cuba during the war with Spain. He was elected governor of New York in 1898 and then vice-president on the Republican ticket under William McKinley in 1900. When the latter was assassinated during his second term, Roosevelt succeeded him as president, and won his own term in the office in 1904. He refused to be nominated for another term in 1908 and went on his famous safari to Africa (1909-10). Upon his return to America he entered the national political arena again but lost the nomination to William Howard Taft in 1912. He then organized the Progressive or Bull Moose party. He was a member of The New-York Historical Society from 1881 until his death at Oyster Bay, New York. This is a replica of the original bust in Roosevelt House, the subject's birthplace at 28 East 20th Street which is operated as a museum by the Theodore Roosevelt Association. It was modeled the year following Roosevelt's death, the artist relying upon photographs for his likeness. Derujinsky, born in 1888 in Smolensk, Russia, studied sculpture in Paris with Verlet and Injalbert, and came to America sometime after World War I. He was a member of the National Sculpture Society and his work was exhibited at a one-man show at the Knoedler Gallery in London in 1928.

DescriptionPortrait bust; patinated to simulate bronze.

SignedSigned across back of neck: "Dervjinsky"

MarkingsMaker's mark under proper right shoulder: "C [in copyright circle] 57 ALVA STUDIOS"; autographed across base: "Theodore Roosevelt"

ClassificationsSCULPTURE