Portrait of Elvis Presley by Ralph Wolfe Cowan

On view in the new exhibition “One Life: Echoes of Elvis”

Elvis Presley released hundreds of records throughout a career that spanned slightly more than two decades. He also starred in thirty-one feature films and two documentaries. He was photographed throughout his career, and images of him on film are part of the American visual experience. However, the King of Rock and Roll only sat for one portrait painter—Ralph Wolfe Cowan.

Elvis sat for Cowan in 1969, and Cowan produced the portrait that hangs today at Graceland. At the time, Cowan also made sketches for this portrait but left them alone until 1988, when he completed this work. At the time this portrait was drafted, Elvis was transitioning from making films to performing live; from 1968 until his death in 1977, he toured regularly. Of Elvis, Cowan said, he “was funny and had charisma that was bigger than life. I enjoyed our friendship.”

Cowan’s portrait is on display as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s new exhibition “One Life: Echoes of Elvis.”  This one-room exhibition marks the seventh-fifth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth and also includes works by William Eggleston, Red Grooms, Robert Arneson, and others.

-Warren Perry, National Portrait Gallery

Listen to an interview of artist Ralph Wolfe Cowan by “Echoes of Elvis” curator Warren Perry (22:33)

Elvis Presley / Ralph Wolfe Cowan (born 1931) / Oil on canvas, 1976–88 / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of R. W. Cowan

Comments

[Msirismg]

Ralph Wolfe Cowan did some of the first album covers of singer Johnny Mathis in the 1950s

[phil janes]

i love the elvis art an my question is how can i get a print of any size of '' one life: echoes of elvis'' ?? thank you

[National Portrait Gallery]

Phil,
Thank you for your comment. We do not offer prints for the works in “One Life: Echoes of Elvis.” However there is a catalog for our upcoming exhibit “Elvis at 21” which you might find of interest: http://welcomebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_book_info&cPath=21&products_id=126

This exhibition of photographs by Alfred Wertheimer will be on view at the National Portrait Gallery from October 30, 2010 to January 23, 2011.

[eugene]

Wow! Ive been a fan since grade school! Elvis rocks!

[Oleg]

Elvis - what is the secret to his attraction? Is it possible to comprehend? He looks so alive on these posters.

[maria owen]

Love all the paintings l have seen of raph wolfe Cowen and it would be wonderful to be able to buy prints of any of his Elvis pictures ..Llove ELVIS always and forever ..
lf l won the lottery l would love the painting ralph did called elvis coming home my favourtie ....
as l am in UK cannot attend the exhibition but good luck and it looks wonderful TCE Maria