Contemporary Masterpieces
We Admire
Artist: Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A.
New York, New York
Subject: Alfred Drake
Oil on canvas, 50 x 40 inches
Collection, Players Club, New York City
 his
spectacular painting represents, at its very best, the bravura tradition
in contemporary portrait painting. The entire dramatic image has
been forcefully and energetically set down with swift, sure strokes.
The dazzling brushwork captivates us, but not so much that we fail
to appreciate the consummate draftsmanship and understanding of
form that underlies every part of the subject.
No other artist of our time appears to so thoroughly lay claim —
through many, many performances like this — to the mantle of
Sargent. This boldness and assurance proceeds directly from a deep
understanding of the artist's craft plus a profound measure of insight
into the essence of the subject.
The powerful abstract dark at the top of the canvas sets off a brilliantly
drawn and rendered head, which is achieved through a highly simplified
statement of light and dark planes, with surely placed highlights.
This is not the product of pedantic rendering, but rather a highly
knowledgeable appreciation of the play of light over the planes
of the head.
Everett Raymond Kinstler has justifiedly earned his unsurpassed
worldwide reputation through countless performances of this extraordinary
quality. J.H.S.
|
index 