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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3. Portrait of Sir Robert Laird
Borden
In the portrait of Lord Borden,
the artist again gives us an "unfinished"
vignette, but here the dark background
color contrasts strikingly with
the white of the canvas. The subtle
tonal relationships of President
Wilson's face are replaced with
a high-contrast light-and-shade
pattern. One entire half of the
head is in shade, but the bright
reflected light forces the darks
to the very center of the face.
An extraordinary concept for a portrait,
requiring daring and virtuosity,
two qualities Orpen has in great
measure!
1919,
Oil on canvas
30 x 25 inches
National Archives of Canada
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