Portrait of Pope John Paul II

[Chris Saper]

I love Nelson Shanks' work. And I really love this painting, which has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any emotional response, spiritual orientation or any other extraneous thing. I've never been to the Vatican. I just respond to this as a painting of a person who is the Pope.

First, as I alluded to earlier, I am struck by the imagination to have presumed this viewpoint - precisely because the "photo-ops" of the Pope explicitly show a normal viewpoint, stooped, round-shouldered, and from above. There is no other way than this "looking up" vantage that could have worked as well IMO.

Regarding the placement of the cane, I would seriously doubt that this was without purpose. Almost, but not quite a tangent. Many of you may remember Shanks' cover on the American Artist magazine, a red-headed woman with a Victorian chair finial sticking out of her head. In the only conversation I ever had with Nelson Shanks I asked him about this, as I couldn't think of anyone who would do such a thing. His reply was along the lines of, "I know. Isn't it great!"

If he only talked the talk, I'd have a much different impression ... but if anyone walks the walk, he certainly does. That is not to say that he isn't a very intense man - he is. He happens to possess quite an intellect.

With regard to the placement of the light, it is right, visually, where it is. I am sure that he he had a clear understanding up front of what parameters were necessary.