The Art of Sir William Orpen
The dazzling Irish painter created portraits
with an amazing force of precision.
 ne
of my favorite artists has always been the great Irish painter Sir
William Orpen (1878 - 1931). His masterful portraits are extraordinarily
vivid, the combined product of superb draftsmanship, rich color,
and an unerring control of tonal values. He was first and foremost
a painter — the strong, decisive brushstrokes are placed with
athletic vigor and uncanny accuracy. There never seems to be an
ounce of hesitancy or indecision — every stroke registers like
a clear, precise note of music. I offer four examples for you to
study:
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1. President Woodrow Wilson
Here we see Orpen's famous study of President Woodrow
Wilson, hanging today in the White House. This astonishing
tour de force is reputed to have been completed in an
hour and a half! (One of my own sitters, Mr. John J.
McCloy of New York, actually watched as the painting
was done, at the Palace of Versailles, following World
War I.) The artist has stated the sober architecture
of the head with uncompromising accuracy. The facial
expression is thoughtful, resolute, and a bit sad. The
white background drape contrasts with the rich blacks
of the coat. The unfinished effect of the lower portion
heightens the sense of immediacy. Does portraiture ever
get better than this?
1919, Oil on canvas
The White House, Washington
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