Recently we visited the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery to see some amazing paintings on display there. Two of them that really caught our attention were "The
Four Justices" and "Christopher Reeve" (Superman in the 1970s and 80s films). This is part one of the blog
about portraits we saw, and you'll not only see our pictures of them but
learn about them. WHERE IS THE GALLERY? National Portrait Gallery is located on 8th and F Streets NW, in Washington, DC 20001
WEBSITE: https://npg.si.edu/home/national-portrait-gallery
We loved this painting of the four female Supreme Court justices!
THE FOUR JUSTICES - The Four Justices by Nelson Shanks, oil on canvas, 2012. / Lent by Ian and Annette Cumming Collection © Nelson Shanks / Clockwise from bottom right: Ruth Bader Ginsburg,/ Sandra Day O’Connor, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan
As a Superman fan, and someone who admired the courage Chris Reeve showed after his accident, I was thrilled to find this portrait:
CHRISTOPHER REEVE -Exhibition Label (1952-2004)
Perhaps best
known for his role as Superman, actor Christopher Reeve went on to
become a powerful voice for people living with disabilities after a 1995
equestrian accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Reeve lived
his life according to his own definition of a hero—“an ordinary
individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of
overwhelming obstacles.” His advocacy efforts led to the passage of the
1999 Work Incentives Improvement Act, allowing people with disabilities
to return to work and still receive disability benefits. He also served
as chairman of the board of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation,
which supports research to develop effective treatments and cures for
paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system
disorders. - Artist: Sacha Newley, born 1965
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| Christopher Reeve as Superman in 1970s & 80s |