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4. Charles F. Kettering
One of the unforgettable sights
of New York is the collection of
Albert Murray portraits in the lobby
of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Institute on Manhattan's East Side.
Here the painter takes a page from
the Spanish master Velasquez, with
a plain background blending from
deep dark at the top of the canvas
to a middle value below. The subject
stands, hands in pockets, genially
returning the gaze of the viewer.
As in the Billy Wingate portrait,
here both the light and shadow sides
of the head are lighter than the
background, while the shadow tones
of the suit contrast strongly with
the space behind. Here are the Albert
Murray hallmarks—simplicity
of conception, painstaking accuracy
in detail, thoroughness and solidity
in execution.
Oil
on canvas, 1960
50 x 40 inches
Collection, Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Institute
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here
are those who believe that the greatest of all
American portrait painters—after John
Singer Sargent—was Albert Murray, the
legendary New York artist (1906-1992) who created
some of the most memorable and effective portraits
ever painted in this country. An Albert Murray
portrait was characterized by consummate draftsmanship,
exquisite color, flawless craftsmanship—resulting in a truly penetrating rendition of
the personality of the subject. Here are four
outstanding examples of Al Murray's magnificent
art: