The magic of technology tells me it’s six months since we last looked at portraits. Since it’s pretty much my favourite subject in art, this is a surprise & today we’ll rectify the situation with another interesting ten…
James Cowie (1886 - 1956), The Yellow Glove, 1928
This portrait was painted soon after James & Alice were married. Seemingly polar opposites in nature, Alice was smart & extrovert. This comes across in this stunning portrait; her self-confident pose & confrontational gaze care us to cross her.
Christian Hook (b. 1971), Alan Cumming, 2014
I love this unusual, choppy work depicting the wonderful Scottish actor Alan Cumming. & it’s quite possibly the first time an artist from Gibraltar has featured in the arty blog. Alan Cumming said of this work, “I am wearing a kilt that is made of the official YES Campaign for Independence tartan & by my side is a jar of Honey in honour of my dog who died last summer.”
John Duncan Fergusson (1874–1961), Jean Maconachie
There are several images of Jean by JD, including sketches on paper. As you’d imagine, they were at one time an item but he (or she?) seem keen to showcase her incredible headgear. The fabulously loose brushwork & muted colours reveal the artist’s influences, a man who has become hugely influential in Scottish art himself.
Frank Quitely (b. 1968), Alan Moore
Another of my favourite Scottish artists, Frank Quitely has expertly woven the words of Alan Moore into his beard.
David Hockney (b. 1937), Mum, 1988-89
Despite the super close & somewhat alarming stare, there’s a sensitivity & sympathy in this work that suggests a very personal relationship between artist & subject. If you’d not seen the title, you’re very likely to have guessed.
Rosso Emerald Crimson (1978), You Better Be Good, 2020
Specialising in portraits & figure studies of women & girls, this Italian artist’s work at times reminds me of slightly sketchier Klimts. The faces are staggeringly well painted, the hair often imprecise or suggested & the backgrounds patterned or filled with blocks of colour. She claims that “Art meets at best my emotional, spiritual & physical needs,” & if that isn’t a good enough reason to create, I don’t know what is.
Paula Rego (1935-2022), Germaine Greer, 1995
A highly influential woman painted by another highly influential woman. Among Rego’s primary artistic concerns were feminism, abortion & women’s rights. As well as being known as a painter & printmaker, she frequently favoured pastels & sometimes collage as media. In addition to a vast body of often magical figure paintings as well as those reflecting folk tales & stories, she produced many works of an emotionally-charged & - to some - deeply challenging nature.
Peter Donnelly, Harry Clarke
It’s nice to find portraits of your favourite artist & I especially like this depiction of Harry. What’s particularly pleasing is that it utilises the vivid colours & resembles stained glass style that Harry was known for.
Andrew Salgado (b. 1982), Matt Cain, 2015
It’s splashy, but I like it.
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780–1867), Madame Edmond Cavé (Marie-Élisabeth Blavot, born 1810), c. 1831–34
I love Ingres when he’s at his most swaggering. He can pretty do the lot & brilliantly so. This unfinished beauty may attempt to persuade us this isn’t swagger, but don’t be fooled. To me, this says, “Look at what I can do, even when I’m just puddling about with paint & not bothering to finish it…” Ingres leaves us all in the dust. Swagger, I tell you.
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