This portrait of Theodore Roosevelt was painted by renowned artist John Singer Sargent in 1903. Architect Charles McKim, who oversaw major renovations to the White House occurring at the time, invited Sargent to paint Roosevelt's portrait. Though the artist later complained that Roosevelt would agree to only short sittings, the president was very pleased with the end result. On February 19 he wrote in a letter to his son Kermit, noting that "This afternoon I had my last sitting with Mr. Sargent. I like his picture enormously." A former governor of New York, Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley, on September 14, 1901 and served until March 4, 1909.

This painting by renowned artist John Singer Sargent depicts a young woman reclining in bed under a protective mosquito net. The black net stands in stark contrast to the rest of the painting's lighter tones. Marion Alice (Polly) Barnard, the daughter of a friend, was the model for the painting, which was part of Sargent's private works until his death. Sargent was American but achieved international fame as a portrait painter during his lifetime.