The New Britain Museum of American Art is showing an exhibition of work by Connecticut's multigenerational Weir family of painters. The first prominent painter in the Weir family was Robert W. Weir. His best known painting is Embarkation of the Pilgrims, on display at the U.S. Capitol. This exhibition had a smaller version of the same painting.
Weir's portrait showed a man with longish gray hair and a beard. A man with longish gray hair and a beard walked past, so I asked him if he minded posing with it, to simulate looking in a time-warping mirror.
After I took the picture, I discovered my model was Bob Noreika, the water color plein air artist shown yesterday.
Nice contrast between the formality of the portrait and the informal look of today.
ReplyDeleteI recognised him right away. You caught a bearded man looking at a (beautiful) portrait of a bearded man!
ReplyDeletehow interesting that you two keep crossing paths.
ReplyDeleteThey look a lot alike!
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice guy that Bob is! Yes - love the dichotomy of the old formal and the contemporary informal styles.
ReplyDeleteSerendipity, Jack, is always so fascinating. Did you tell him that you had already posted his photo?
ReplyDeleteIt's fate.
ReplyDeleteNice painting, I recognized the guy!
ReplyDeleteNicely done!
ReplyDeleteVery funny! And kinda "weir(d)" ...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if your Lake Weir was named for this family when they came to their senses and moved to Florida? They did move to Florida, right?
This is just great and very clever of you. I'm so glad he agreed to pose because it makes a perfect shot.
ReplyDeleteFunny story and beautiful portraits, I like the idea of a painter looking at a painter through a painting...
ReplyDeleteA great and funny story and what a terrific shot!! I did recognize Noreika as soon as I saw your photo and had to chuckle -- you're such a clever guy, Jack!!
ReplyDeleteWorks perfectly, Jack!
ReplyDeleteHe could be looking in a mirror except for the sunglasses! What a great shot.
ReplyDeleteYou picked the perfect model Jack ... Bob Noreika would have a great appreciation for the works by a member of the Weir Family.
ReplyDeleteA great pairing of the two!
ReplyDeleteI thought he looked familiar.
ReplyDeleteVery cool picture. It feels like there is some strong attraction between the two.
ReplyDeleteYeah like he's contemplating himself in a former life.
ReplyDeleteI also recognized him right away. And I love what you've done here. Great creative shot!
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever idea! It really worked just fine. Well done, Jack.
ReplyDeleteGreat portraits! I don't often ask people to let me shoot them. It's time to get more brave.
ReplyDeleteSomehow that just seems so 'right' Jack..they definitely have a lot in common oui!
ReplyDeletehow cool!!!
ReplyDeletei once took such a pic of my bf and a painting. maybe i should post it.. :D
but i would not dare asking a stranger.
Bravo Jack. You stopped a stranger and asked him to pose. The fact that he is also an artist, is icing on this cake. I love this and I think the color is just right. V
ReplyDeleteV
Wow, that's a great photo. So well conceived and executed.
ReplyDeleteGood catch! He does look like the model.
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