Monday, February 15, 2016

Presidents Day

I am old fashioned enough to regret the merging of Lincoln's Birthday (February 12) and Washington's Birthday (February 22) into Presidents Day.  Win some, lose some.
Here are some works from the New Britain Museum of Art to honor the two great Presidents.


Here is a 1947 bust of Abraham Lincoln by American 20th century sculptor Jo Davidson.
A companion bust is at the Lincoln home museum in Springfield, Illinois.


And here are double knock-offs of Gilbert Stuart's famous 1796 painting of George Washington.
The one on the left is a reverse painting on glass by the prominent Cantonese artist, Foeiqua, around 1800.  Washington and Stuart's painting were so popular that there was a thriving trade in copying the Stuart painting.  The one on the right is an intentionally blurred and manipulated 2013 copy of the Foeiqua painting by American "artist," Bill Cunningham.  I hate it.

10 comments:

Kate said...

The bust of Lincoln depicts him as I imagine he looked in life.

William Kendall said...

The Lincoln bust appeals to me. There is a life mask of him done in 1860 that resides here at Laurier House, home of two prime ministers. Unfortunately photos are not allowed. it is one.of three copies. You look at it, and it's spooky.

Stefan Jansson said...

Cunningham's version is a weird one.

EG CameraGirl said...

I really like the bust of Abraham Lincoln. We don't have any famous Presidents so it's Family Day here in Ontario. ;)

Sylvia K said...

I do really like the bust of Lincoln, the other one is too weird for me!! Hope you have a great week, Jack!!

Tanya Breese said...

we were driving through springfield once and were going to stop and see the home but it was spur of the moment and we couldn't find it...before gps was on everyone's phones!

RedPat said...

Love the bust but agree with you about the last painting!

Bill said...

The bust of Lincoln is great, so realistic.

SRQ said...

Agreed! I dislike the Cunningham piece AND the merging of Lincoln & Washington's birthdays.

Kay said...

I too like the Lincoln bust and imagine it looks much like the man. I saw a life mask of him at the Smithsonian, taken about a week before his death. History, his position, and his health took a terrible toll.