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Catalog Data

Artist:
Freddy Rodríguez, born 1945  Search this
Sitter:
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez, born 1975  Search this
Medium:
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions:
Stretcher: 101.9 × 101.6 × 3.5 cm (40 × 40 × 1 3/8")
Framed dimensions: 41 9/16 x 41 9/16 x 2 1/4"
Type:
Painting
Place:
United States\New York\Kings\New York\Queens\Flushing
Date:
2007
Exhibition Label:
Born New York City
Alex Rodríguez (“A-Rod”) first learned to play base- ball from his father, who had played professional ball in the Dominican Republic. An exceptional young athlete, Rodríguez made his Major League Baseball debut with the Seattle Mariners in 1993, at age eighteen. Six years later, he signed with the Texas Rangers, who traded him to the New York Yankees in 2003.
During his twenty-two-year career, Rodríguez won three Most Valuable Player awards, and he proved to be one of the best all-around players in the sport. His 696 home runs placed him fourth behind Barry Bonds’s record of 762. Allegations of using performance-enhancing drugs, however, resulted in his suspension for the entire 2014 season, and two years later, he retired.
Inspired by Andy Warhol’s thirteen portraits of Elizabeth Taylor from 1963, Freddy Rodríguez painted thirteen portraits of A-Rod, evoking his celebrity status as one of the highest-paid baseball players of all time.
Nacido en Nueva York
Alex Rodríguez (“A-Rod”) aprendió a jugar béisbol con su padre, que había sido jugador profesional en la República Dominicana. Atleta excepcional, el joven Rodríguez debutó en las grandes ligas en 1993, a los 18 años, con los Seattle Mariners. Seis años más tarde firmó con los Texas Rangers, quienes en 2003 lo negociaron con los New York Yankees. Durante su carrera de 22 años, Rodríguez ganó tres veces el premio MVP (Jugador Más Valioso), y llegó a ser uno de los jugadores más completos de su deporte. Sus 696 jonrones lo hicieron el cuarto jonronero de todos los tiempos, siendo Barry Bonds el primero, con 762. No obstante, en la temporada de 2014 fue suspendido por alegaciones de que usaba drogas para mejorar su rendimiento. Dos años después se retiró. Inspirado en los 13 retratos de Elizabeth Taylor realizados por Andy Warhol en 1963, Freddy Rodríguez pintó 13 retratos de A-Rod, evocando su estatus de celebridad como uno de los beisbolistas mejor pagados de la historia.
Provenance:
Freddy Rodríguez (b. 1945); purchased NPG 2017
Topic:
Equipment\Sports Equipment\Baseball Equipment\Baseball bat  Search this
Equipment\Sports Equipment\Baseball Equipment\Baseball glove  Search this
Silhouette  Search this
Costume\Headgear\Hat\Cap\Baseball cap  Search this
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez: Male  Search this
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Baseball  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number:
NPG.2017.75
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
Copyright:
© 2007 Freddy Rodríguez
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4803c878e-366b-43cc-85a9-137acfe6f0e7
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.2017.75