Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 8
August 18, 2023
Art Unboxed Painters To The Chiefs
Gilbert Stuart and George Peter Alexander Healy, between them the two men painted twelve presidents of the United States. The famous names John Singer Sargent and Anders Zorn are also among the painters to the chiefs of our country over its history. Everett Raymond Kinstler himself painted eight Presidents, though not all commissioned by the White House Portrait Association.
However some of the official portraits weren’t “official” when first painted. The importance wasn’t in who commissioned them, but in the quality of the painting, and its lasting effects. When we think of George Washington, whether we know it or not, we think of Gilbert Stuart. His painting is the basis for not only the White House portrait of Washington, but the US dollar, and American postage stamps.
Just as with the royal portraits, there are certain paintings I really like. Among them are Washington, William Howard Taft, Harry Truman, and Ronald Reagan. For Washington it’s simply the image of Washington, for Taft it’s the lighting and color, something Zorn is known for.
With Truman it’s a combination of the likeness, lighting, the setting, and the stories behind them. When I see the building in the background of Truman, I think of how he led the charge and spearheaded the physical rebuilding of the White House. It was in very bad shape until he stepped in.
The other story is how the artist, Greta Kempton felt so close to the Truman family she turned down offers to paint both Presidents Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson. Her portrait of Mrs Truman was very well liked by the former First Lady who took it with her when she left Washington. The White House would later ask Kempton to paint a duplicate for them. When the artist passed she had the bulk of her estate donated to the Truman library.
For President Reagan, and this may sound odd, part of what I really like is the shape of his face. As with Truman’s portrait, there is a strength there. It’s also the use of color, particularly in the suit and column, also the smile seems to be just right, and very Reagan. It’s no secret that I am an admirer of Mr. Kinstler’ s work and I think this is among his finest.
In addition to Mr. Kinstler, some of the artists who painted the presidents are as interesting as their paintings. One such man was the official portrait artist of Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Ulke. His fame was for his friendship not with Grant but Lincoln. At the time of Lincoln’s assassination, Mr. Ulke resided in a boarding house called Tenth Street House where the President was carried after the shooting.
Another famous story connected with the artist was the man who painted President Kennedy’s portrait Aaron Shikler. Mrs Kennedy asked him to paint the posthumous official portrait of JFK. For the model he used Senator Ted Kennedy’s pose at his gravesite. It was also a stance that both JFK, RFK, and Senator Kennedy all were known to have taken at various times.
One of the most intriguing stories for me personally was that of Harriet Anderson Stubbs Murphy. A self taught painter, beginning at the age of twelve, she painted portraits of four presidents, including the official portrait of William McKinley. At the time she was only one of a few women in portraiture and often signed her husband’s name because she would be paid more.
Her husband also an artist, when he realized that she was a better painter than he was, became her business agent and gave up painting. As an old romantic it strikes a chord with me on how a husband and wife should support each other. Together they painted a wonderful life together and raised two children. The daughter became a commercial artist, and the son an author and educator.
History, art, the lives of the presidents and those that painted them make for such an entertaining story filled with twists and turns. More than one President had a portrait they didn’t care for replaced. Washington’s portrait was saved from fire by First Lady Dolly Madison during the war of 1812. Whether the signature on a document, or a brushstroke on a canvas, each of us make an impression in our lives. No matter what our course in life, we should strive to not only make an impact, but a positive one.
With Me In The Winepress – Ephesians 1:10
Ephesians 1:10 (ESV)
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
The Lord waited until the exact moment to be born, a moment that most everyone else would have missed. If you or I were guessing when The Messiah would be born we probably wouldn’t have picked the Roman Empire. Most likely we wouldn’t have thought to pick a carpenter from Galilee either, and yet those were exactly the perfect circumstances and occupation.
Speaking solely for the moment in Earthly terms and Christ’s occupation, have you ever considered why a Carpenter? He did not choose a shepherd, perhaps because a natural shepherd still has to slaughter some sheep. Jesus, though king and priest, knew that both His kingship and priesthood were not of this world.
Also, from the time of the Maccabees the Jews had experienced a natural priest as king, and there had been issues. Christ wanted them to see not a priest who became a king, but The King Of Kings Who became our High Priest.
A Carpenter builds up. He may tear some things down, but it’s to build something new. Christ came to complete the law and not to destroy it, but He completed and replaced the old covenant with the new one.
The time of Roman occupation hardly seemed like the time when Israel’s King would arrive, by human eyes. Yet if He had come at any other time, Israel would have been more occupied with the natural kingdom than the spiritual. God had so much more in mind than a physical kingdom, but a spiritual one for all people.
Psalms 37:25 (KJV)
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
How do we know the choices that He made were the perfect choices, simply because He chose them. When we trust in the wisdom of God we can rest in His timing. One of my favorite scriptures has always been when David wrote Psalm 37:25. As a young man I loved it because I read it, as a middle aged man I love it more because I have lived it.
The more we walk with God we see more through experience that He is working all things for our good. We believe the concept at first because He told us, but experience deepens this so much. It’s not that every circumstance and every event is good, but we’ve seen enough to know it will turn for our good.
At times tears may last for multiple seasons, but they always produce a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. This is first because God is good. Second it’s because His long term goal isn’t a year, decade, century, or generation, it’s eternity.
Romans 8:18 (KJV)
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
The Lord is working to unite Heaven and Earth in His mercy, grace, and righteousness. Did you know that in the KJV the word sufferings only appears ten times, and each time it’s connected to a positive result? Sufferings are painful, sorrowful, challenging, and difficult but they are never absent of God’s love and presence. We may feel alone but He said we are never by ourselves.
Paul also said something else about sufferings, that their intensity in us will pale in comparison to the glory which shall be revealed in us. Yes we will face sufferings, but we will also experience glory! Both the Old and New Testaments echo the fact that God is greater than any battle, any trial, and any trouble.
August 17, 2023
August 16, 2023
Sketch Artist Ralph Heimans
My favorite portrait of Prince Philip is by Australian born artist Ralph Heimans, this is a sketch of him painting.
Sketch Artist Ralph Herman’s
My favorite portrait of Prince Philip is by Australian born artist Ralph Heimans, this is a sketch of him painting.
August 15, 2023
iPainting Elijah At Horeb
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:13 (NKJV)
