Venus and Serena Williams

Artist

Annie Leibovitz, born 2 Oct 1949

Sitter

Serena Williams, born 26 Sep 1981

Venus Williams, born 17 Jun 1980

Exhibition Label

For the past decade, the Williams sisters have been dominant figures in professional tennis. Serena Williams has been ranked number one in singles on six separate occasions, the first time in July 2002. As of spring 2013, she has won thirty-one Grand Slam titles, including thirteen doubles championships with her sister Venus, and four Olympic gold medals. Venus Williams has been ranked number one on three separate occasions, the first in February 2002. She has won twenty-two Grand Slam titles and has won forty-four career singles titles, including five Wimbledon titles and an Olympic gold medal.

Annie Leibovitz’s double portrait of the sisters in 1998 was taken just before each broke through as a Grand Slam singles champion. The following year Serena would win her first U.S. Open, and two years later Venus would take her first win at Wimbledon in women’s singles.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Annie Leibovitz

1998 (printed 2011)

Object number

NPG.2011.152

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

© Annie Leibovitz

Type

Photograph

Medium

Pigment print

Dimensions

Image: 38.5 x 47.2 cm (15 3/16 x 18 9/16")

Sheet: 41 x 50.9 cm (16 1/8 x 20 1/16")

Mat: 55.9 × 71.1 cm (22 × 28")

Place

United States\Florida\Palm Beach\West Palm Beach

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Costume\Jewelry\Necklace

Costume\Jewelry\Watch

Costume\Jewelry\Bracelet

Serena Williams: Female

Serena Williams: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Tennis

Venus Williams: Female

Venus Williams: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Tennis

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.2011.152

Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm42eea4143-a1a5-483d-bf49-4dcec8841da6