Hon. A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. 1928 - 1998
 

Dear Forum:

Here is a portrait for the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, that I completed a year ago, but saw installed in the Great Stair Hall of Silverman Hall for the first time today. I was impressed with the placement. The space is decorated in a color scheme of deep salmon, earthy golds, and creamy marble, in a Louis XIV style building which seem to compliment this portrait with its gilt frame. By comparison this portrait has a somber, dark color scheme, which I think reflects an homage to Judge Higginbotham's overwhelming contributions to the advancement and status of minority values and rights in America, as well as authoring "In the Matter of Color",the most important book on the history of the African American experience from a historical law perspective. During the Nineties, he became "this [ ] close" to being nominated for the bench of the Federal Supreme Court. This is the second portrait I have done of this eminent jurist and it has truly been an humbling honor for me.

The Hon. A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., oil on linen, 42 by 36 inches.

Nice!
 

Hi Garth -

I've enjoyed seeing your work - this and the others. Thanks for sharing this one - I really like the feeling and dignity of this man that the painting conveys.

Excellent
 

Hello Garth
Excellent portrait, I like the warm colors. When I look at this portrait I can feel his personality coming through, you did more than just capture a likeness.

This man kind of reminds me of the actor James Earl Jones, Thats the first person I thought of when I first saw the portrait, it's something about his demeanor, he's got that same strong persona.

The tones are buttery smooth on this piece, Garth. Not only are the facial features well executed but those hands...my gosh...they look as though they are going to move any second.

Is this your "wet into wet" technique......or I should ask.....what is your technique of choice that enables these nice tonal transitions?

Oh....yeah.....do you have any close ups of either hand?

Thanks for sharing!

-Geary

Thanks, Julie, Henry, and Geary:

Julie, I like your wording "feeling of dignity". I had so much glowing feedback from his family, friends, other judges, and interns, etc.; he apparently made a positive difference in a lot of lives, treating everyone with dignity.

Henry, I never met him in life, but got some insight from written and oral testimonials. His voice was apparently similar to James Earl Jones'. He was larger than life in other respects, as well as being unusually tall.

Geary, I don't remember the hands being easy for me. I think the process was like more scumbles into scumbles.

Another great piece. Thanks for posting the closeups. This piece has a beautiful quality of appearing smooth and painterly at once.

Another wonderful painting, Garth. I love the complex warm tones. Congratulations on such a prestigious commission!

Thanks Linda, and Jimmie!

The Black Law Student Association commisioned this after seeing the first one I did for the Federal District Court in Philadelphia. Given their limited budget, at first they wanted to hang a photographic print reproduction of the first portrait, but somehow, fortunately I talked them into an original painting. Moreover, at the unveiling, the Chief Judge of the Federal Court was concerned that this second portrait of Judge Higginbotham turned out better than the one in his courtroom.

Ah, TRUE politics: "Image before substance" :o :oops: :D

But, hey Garth, this could work in your favor. I see it now: Garth Herrick does portraits of EVERY governmental figure that's ever existed in the state of Pennsylvania...THREE TIMES!!!

Good going friend!

Geary

Hi Garth,

A very sympathetic person and portrait. At first I felt that it was hot colors, but only until I discovered the blues in the clothes, that makes a delicate balance.

I like to bee a nerd for color.

Allan

Very nice Garth!

I am interested in your lighting. Is this something you shot, or did they supply the picture? I looks like two light sources or a filler on just his face.

:thumbsup:

Hi Beth,

Unfortunately this was a posthumous portrait. I never met him in life. The Federal District Court supplied me with a couple dozen official photographs in 2000 for the first portrait, which I dumped as digital scans into my computer. Of those were several similar photos from the same photo shoot, and I took the best head, hands, robe folds, etc., from them and combined them in Photoshop. Since I already had these image files, it was simple to do this second portrait. It never feels right to work from someone else's photography, but there was no other option. Beth, I think you are right in your analysis of the lighting. One light off to the side, and a large softbox light in front near the camera. The light had to be interpreted because, for example, the hands were so brightly lit, they appeared more or less in a caucasian tonal range. One of the toughest aspect of this posthumous interpretation was how to determine his correct skin color and tone. I did not trust the photos, with their magenta cast, so I interviewed many people who knew him, and took reference photos of people with a similar complexion to guide me. His son, who has a recording studio, coincidentally lives just a block from me, but he is very light skinned, and has little resemblance to his father. While he couldn't sit in for the portrait, he offered insight and nodding reassurance of my efforts to get the likeness right.

Thanks for your insight!

Garth thank YOU for the insight, plus I never even considered the fact of fuller lighting on darker skin tones. One of these days I'll be like you - please tell me you are 58! :)

I am doing much the same, and the photos which they supplied were two: one had a copyright but she looked like Quasimodo and the other she is very jaundiced. I took the Marvin route and brought a body double in; hopefully It is coming to an end and i'll be anxious to see what you think.

This is a wonderful piece, and I'm sure the family, friends and professional colleagues of this man approve greatly of the strong, intelligent and dignified manner in which you have portrayed him.

Any chance the pose was slightly influenced by Ingres' "Louis Francois-Bertin"?

Thanks Rob, you are very kind. That Ingres portrait is one of my all time favorites. However much I would love to claim an influence of Ingres on this pose, the credit goes to the original studio photographer. I deleted the encyclopedic array of library cases packed full of law books which were distracting, from the original photo. So I guess the simple background is all I can relate to the portrait of Louis Francois-Bertin.

Garth

Ah--- Perhaps I should have read through the whole thread and my question would have been answered prior to my post. :oops:

Still, if you like to use Photoshop to assist as much as I do, it is not unheard of to swap bodies or clothing or limbs. Sounds very Frankenstein and all, but other people's photos VERY often do not measure up. Anyway, it's a great piece, regardless.

Wow. You continue to astonish me with every piece you post in this forum. Once again you have proven the theory that anything worth doing is worth doing well.

I really appreciate the easy watercolor like treatment of the oil on the face....