The sculpture
Thomas Jefferson
A sculptural portrait by George Petrides, 2026
A frontal torso with the head turned to the left. The warm brass tone of the face, hair and neckcloth contrasts with the darker bronze of the coat and waistcoat.
Modeled passages remain visible in the hair, the features and the folds of the coat, recording the artist’s work on the surface.
Details
| Artist | George Petrides (born Athens, 1964) |
|---|---|
| Title | Thomas Jefferson |
| Date | 2026 |
| Medium | Applied brass metal coating (head) and bronze metal coating (torso) over a recycled PETG body, hand-finished; two-component UV clear coat, applied in the studio. Not a solid bronze casting. |
| Dimensions | 100 cm high × 100 cm wide × 80 cm deep, excluding base. Recorded studio dimensions; final depth to be confirmed for transport and structural review. |
| Weight | Approximately 30 kg, excluding base; planning estimate |
| Edition | Unique work; not editioned |
| Provenance | Made in the artist’s studio, Long Island City, New York; donated by the artist to the U.S. Department of State, 2026 |
| Location | Jefferson House, residence of the U.S. Ambassador, Athens (installation pending) |
Likeness
In developing the likeness, George Petrides studied historical portraits of Jefferson and selected four as direct references:
- Jean-Antoine HoudonMarble bust, 1789
- Rembrandt PealePortrait, 1800, White House collection
- Gilbert StuartEdgehill portrait, 1805/1821
- Gilbert StuartMedallion Portrait, 1805
Further reading: Life Portraits of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Foundation.