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

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Linda Brandon

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.

[Geary Wootten]

Originally Posted by Garth Herrick

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"

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

[Allan Rahbek]

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

[Elizabeth Schott]

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.

[Garth Herrick]

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!

[Elizabeth Schott]

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.

[Rob Sullivan]

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"?