2. President Woodrow Wilson
Here we see Orpen's famous study
of President Woodrow Wilson, hanging
today in the White House. This astonishing
tour de force is reputed to have
been completed in an hour and a
half! (One of my own sitters, Mr.
John J. McCloy of New York, actually
watched as the painting was done,
at the Palace of Versailles, following
World War I.) The artist has stated
the sober architecture of the head
with uncompromising accuracy. The
facial expression is thoughtful,
resolute, and a bit sad. The white
background drape contrasts with
the rich blacks of the coat. The
unfinished effect of the lower portion
heightens the sense of immediacy.
Does portraiture ever get better
than this?
Click portrait to enlarge.
1919,
Oil on canvas
The White House, Washington
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of my favorite artists has always been the great
Irish painter Sir William Orpen (1878 - 1931).
His masterful portraits are extraordinarily
vivid, the combined product of superb draftsmanship,
rich color, and an unerring control of tonal
values. He was first and foremost a painter—the
strong, decisive brushstrokes are placed with
athletic vigor and uncanny accuracy. There never
seems to be an ounce of hesitancy or indecision—every
stroke registers like a clear, precise note
of music. I offer four examples for you to study: