One Giant Leap: Apollo 11

Speaking before Congress in May 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked for an American commitment to landing a man on the moon "before this decade is out." That commitment was indeed made, and eight years later, on July 16, 1969, three American astronauts—Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins—lifted off from Cape Kennedy, Florida, in their Apollo 11 spacecraft bound for the moon.

On July 20 they reached their destination. That day, at 10:56 p.m. (eastern daylight time), with an estimated 600 million people around the world watching him on television, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface uttering the words "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Shortly thereafter, while Michael Collins orbited above in the mission’s command ship, Buzz Aldrin joined Armstrong on this first human exploration of the moon. So a fantasy, as old perhaps as humanity itself, had become a reality. Soon after the astronauts returned safely to earth, artist Ronald Anderson set about doing this picture commemorating their moon landing. In preparation, he interviewed all three of his subjects, and after the painting was finished, they autographed it for him. 

It is a very beautiful thing, and most gratifying to the sight, to behold the body of the moon, distant from us almost sixty earthly radii, as if it were no farther away than two such measures--so that its diameter appears almost thirty times larger, its surface nearly nine hundred times, and its volume twenty-seven thousand times as large as when viewed with the naked eye. In this way one may learn with all certainty of sense evidence that the moon is not robed in a smooth and polished surface but is in fact rough and uneven, covered everywhere, just like the earth’s surface, with huge prominences, deep valleys, and chasms.

- Galileo Galilei, The Starry Messenger, 1610

Apollo 11 Crew (clockwise from top) Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Michael Collins / Ronald Anderson / Oil on prepared board, 1969 / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Blakemore, Midland, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Omar Harvey, Dallas, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. R.K. Keitz, Dallas, Texas; Col. and Mrs. Thomas A.P. Krock, Dallas, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Lloyd, Jr., Houston, Texas; Dr. and Mrs. J.R. Maxfield, Dallas, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Nagorny, Jr., Houston, Texas; Dr. and Mrs. H.B. Renfrow, Dallas, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Taylor, Dallas, Texas; Dr. and Mrs. J. Robert Terry, Miami, Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Young, Dallas, Texas; and an anonymous donor

Comments

[Martha Maxfield Cottingham]

It was a special treat for me to see this article. Thank you for remembering a terrific moment in US history, as well as a terrific painting. I attended the unveiling of the portrait.

[cutsa]

Surely a giant leap for mankind, We need to see how far the Mission Mars will go.

Thanks

[aj abbett]

i have this picture signed by the artist. Is it worth anything?

[Lisa Martin]

My Uncle's brothere is the artist! I reciently visited the Portrait Galley off-site archives and was able to see the original! It was very inpressive ... larger than the copy in my family's home.

In responce to AJ Abbett ... I am not sure of it's worth but certianly it should be. Contact the Gallery, perhaps they can assist you.

Also during my trip to DC I visited Kaye Bailey Hutchinson's office and saw another copy of one of his portraits! Good Stuff!

If anyone would like more nformation about Ron please feel free to contact me.

[Manny]

Yea this guy ronald anderson name a few of these painting I have an original one sign out to buzz aldrin is it worth anything I dnt know