Portrait of Washington A. Roebling
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
A Brooklyn Power Couple
Washington and Emily Roebling, like many eminent Americans, had their likenesses painted by leading French portraitists. Washington, who served as the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, is depicted seated before a window overlooking the landmark. When he fell ill during construction, Emily assumed all on-site responsibilities and was the first to cross the bridge, in 1883.
Emily Roebling was honored at the bridge’s opening ceremony, and her celebrity later extended beyond Brooklyn. She wore the elaborate dress she wears here at her presentation at court in St. James’s Palace in London and at the crowning of the czar and czarina in Moscow.
Caption
Théobald Chartran French, 1849–1907. Portrait of Washington A. Roebling, 1899. Oil on canvas, unglazed, framed weight is 166 lbs.: 79 1/8 x 53 1/8 in., 166 lb. (201 x 134.9 cm, 75.3kg) frame: 90 3/4 × 64 1/4 × 6 in. (230.5 × 163.2 × 15.2 cm) glazed weight: 224 lb. (101.61kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul Roebling, 1994.69.2. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1994.69.2_SL1.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Title
Portrait of Washington A. Roebling
Date
1899
Geography
Place made: Europe
Medium
Oil on canvas
Classification
Dimensions
unglazed, framed weight is 166 lbs.: 79 1/8 x 53 1/8 in., 166 lb. (201 x 134.9 cm, 75.3kg) frame: 90 3/4 × 64 1/4 × 6 in. (230.5 × 163.2 × 15.2 cm) glazed weight: 224 lb. (101.61kg)
Inscriptions
Inscribed upper right: "[?]99"
Credit Line
Gift of Paul Roebling
Accession Number
1994.69.2
Rights
No known copyright restrictions
This work may be in the public domain in the United States. Works created by United States and non-United States nationals published prior to 1923 are in the public domain, subject to the terms of any applicable treaty or agreement. You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this work. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). The Museum does not warrant that the use of this work will not infringe on the rights of third parties, such as artists or artists' heirs holding the rights to the work. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions before copying, transmitting, or making other use of protected items beyond that allowed by "fair use," as such term is understood under the United States Copyright Act. The Brooklyn Museum makes no representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement governing copyright protection in the United States for works created by foreign nationals. For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
Are the people in this gallery, including the man in this painting, people with power?
I guess that depends on your definition of power, but they could all be described as people of means--wealth and prominence. The man you photographed is Washington A. Roebling who was instrumental in the design and early construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. He was an engineer and a business man in the 19th century.His wife is pictured in the portrait to the right, when Washington A. fell ill, Emily Warren Roebling saw the project to completion.Oh yeah, I've heard of him.So how would you define the connection between the portraits in that gallery, if there is any connection?This wall of the Beaux-Arts Court is curated to tell the story of portrait painting as a genre within the European painting tradition.Most of the individuals represented are wealthy members of society, the kind of people who could afford to commission a portrait. It's interesting to compare the different ways in which the artists have approached portrait painting across time and place.If one puts a glass onto a painting, can't mold develop between the two surfaces? Is there a maintainable procedure to keep the paintings in good condition?
I believe our conservators frame the paintings in such a way so as to create a seal so that moisture and humidity do not develop, leading to mold. The glass creates a micro-climate.If you look in some of our objects in glass cases, you'll notice a strip of paper with various colors that the conservators use to monitor the conditions for these cased objects.Tell me about this portrait, please.
Did you notice the Brooklyn Bridge in the background? Washington A. Roebling designed and oversaw the beginning of its construction as further suggested by the plans on his desk. His wife, Emily Warren Roebling, whose portrait is to the right, saw the bridge to completion when he became ill. In the late 19th century Paris was still the center of the art world and having your portrait painted by a French portraitist, like Théobald Chartran, was a true sign of status.Is this guy rich?
Yes he was! This is Washington A. Roebling, his wife, Emily Warren Roebling is in the painting next to him. The Roeblings had a very successful company producing building materials like metal cables and were responsible for the construction of Brooklyn Bridge.Was Mr. Roebling's portraits made in France or NY?
I believe it was painted in New York. Chartran made a name for himself in France and then began making annual trips to the US starting in 1893. During these trips he painted may prominent New Yorkers including Roebling, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Carnegie.Thanks!
Have information?
Have information about an artwork? Contact us at