The Lucian Freud discussion reminded me of
Alice Neel . In her later years she did quite a few commissioned portraits, as well as portraits of major art world players, such as Andy Warhol.
I am including two images that I can attest to personally as amazing likenesses. The first is a self-portrait--I met her at this time, and I can tell you this exactly conveys both her physical and spiritual essence. (she was wearing clothes when I met her, but she still cut an imposing figure.)
The second is of Linda Nochlin and her daughter. Nochlin is an important art historian, specializing in 19th century realism. She wrote, among many other books,
"Realism" in 1977, and was a champion of the contemporary realism that emerged in the 70's, as well as of contemporary women artists more generally. I knew Nochlin when I was a graduate student 20 years after this painting was made, but it is absolutely her.
But I'm curious what you all think of her work. Is it at all relevant to the kind of commisioned portrait painting many of us do? Please vote yes, no or maybe, and then say why.
Threaded Mode
