Current Portrait
Reviews
Artist: Robert Alexander Anderson
Darien, Connecticut.
Subject: President George W. Bush
The Yale Club, New York
 his
distinguished portrait was created at the invitation of the President,
and was based on life sittings at the President's ranch in Crawford,
Texas. Given the extraordinary and auspicious subject, the artist's
portrayal is remarkable for its naturalness and aura of friendly
informality. This effect is achieved by the facial expression, the
unaffected and down-to-earth pose, the simple domestic setting,
and the presence of the pet.
We are all able to easily declare the likeness perfect, the facial
expression being one familiar to all Americans. Portrait artists
studying the composition will note the careful balance of dark and
light areas, the balance of areas of warm color with areas of cool
and the careful use of decorating patterns. A master touch is the
large unusual dark shape filling the upper right corner of the composition,
which drives forward the figure of the President, and adds a gravity
to the aura of the picture. Note also the very important placement
of the dark shape of the furniture piece just behind the President
— this shape reinforces and stabilizes the figure, and balances
the previously mentioned large dark on the right.
The execution (we have not seen the original) is simple and straightforward,
not overworked, yet nowhere slighted. The expressive hands are masterfully
drawn and rendered. J.H.S.
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