One of my favorite galleries, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, has paintings of all the Presidents. Recently, it added one titled "Kevin Spacey as President Frank Underwood." I saw this painting a few days ago, but this is the right day to blog it as season 4 of "House of Cards" is streaming starting today o n Netflix.
Frank Underwood's portrait isn't actually with the Presidential portraits, but it is right by the entrance to the museum. It is large (6' x 6') and very impressive, though I am not too thrilled with how the right foot is cut off. The style is interesting and has a lot of texture. It was hard to take a picture of it because it is an oil painting under glass.
I was disappointed that the artist, Jonathan Yeo, is not American. He is British . He evidently likes Kevin Spacey, though, and also painted him as Richard III. The Richard III painting is hanging in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The painting is 6' x 6' and is hung so that you feel Underwood is going to do one of his asides that are a trademark in the series. Although it is on loan for now, the Museum is looking for a donor.
Meanwhile, in a strange twist, the famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington is not on display in the museum. It is undergoing conservation treatment.
I like the cut off foot because it seems like a natural entry to the painting. I also like all the abstract shapes throughout the work. I hope they find a donor, maybe Kevic Spacey!
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