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| H. M. Queen Elizabeth II | 1986 | Michael Leonard |
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| H. M. Queen Elizabeth II | 1986 | Michael Leonard |
Michael Leonard was born in India in 1933, to British parents. He returned to England to complete his education, and then his military service, and then he studied commercial art and illustration at St. Martin's School of Art in London.
Though he spent many years working successfully as a commercial artist, he yearned to be a painter, and as he says, "make pictures for the wall rather than the page."
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| Mrs. Murphy | 1973 | Michael Leonard |
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| Hugo's Window | 1975 | Michael Leonard |
But year by year, Leonard's paintings became more colorful and rich.
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| Ernst Junger | 1976 | Michael Leonard |
I really like how dynamic these compositions are,
especially the one below of Frederick Georg Junger.
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| Frederick Georg Junger | 1976 | Michael Leonard |
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| Stoker and George | 1981 | Michael Leonard |
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| Double Portrait: Edward Lucie-Smith | 1983 | Michael Leonard |
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| Adrian Ward Jackson | 1987 | Michael Leonard |
Through the years, Michael Leonard has created what he calls "Portraits in Time." They're inspired by that interesting phenomenon whereby we recognize (at least I do) that some people look as though they could fit into another place and time. Here are some delightful examples:
Naomi Buchanan in the style of John Cox
David Rust in the style of Ingres
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| click to enlarge | Michael Leonard |
David Newman in the style of Kneller
Lady Pamela Hicks in the style of Romney
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| click to enlarge | Michael Leonard |
William Burlington in the style of Van Dyck
Robin Katz in the style of Bronzino
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| click to enlarge | Michael Leonard |
The Portraits in Time that I've showcased here span from 1984-2003. Below is a Michael Leonard self-portrait (also a Portrait in Time). Click on his portrait, and you'll be linked to his website.
The comment below from my blogging friend Jim, of The Road to Parnassus, reminded me of Horizon Magazine's different take on Portraits in Time. Back in the 1950s or early 1960s, Horizon contrasted ancient sculptures to celebrities of the time. I was fortunate to find a few of those marvelous comparisons.
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The comment below from my blogging friend Jim, of The Road to Parnassus, reminded me of Horizon Magazine's different take on Portraits in Time. Back in the 1950s or early 1960s, Horizon contrasted ancient sculptures to celebrities of the time. I was fortunate to find a few of those marvelous comparisons.
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| Horizon Magazine |
wonderful work - they look very much influenced by photography don't you think?
ReplyDeleteYes I do think so, however I think what's happening with some of his compositions, such as the portrait of Adrian Ward Jackson, go beyond what might have been achieved through photography.
DeleteThank you Mark for introducing us to Michael Leonard. Did not know him. What a gifted portrait painter he is! The portrait of Queen Elizabeth may be my favorite portrait of her.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina,
DeleteI've seen this portrait many times, and thought it was the most flattering portrait of the Queen, at least in older age. My own favorite is the coronation portrait by Pietro Annigoni, in large part I think because it harkens back to the Renaissance in style.
The Annigoni is superlative, and I was very lucky to see the real thing last summer in London. (It's privatey owned - by one of the livery companies - and is not on public display.)
DeleteI'm not sure about these works. There's certainly talent. The pencil nudes are rather good.
Dear Columnist,
DeleteI would love to be able to study the Annigoni portrait in person; it certainly sets the standard to which all others must be held. What a shame that it's not on public display!
Mar, wonderful portraiture. I love the Adrian Ward Jackson and Stoker and George the most!
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for your kind comments on my site.
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Dear Karena,
DeleteWhile it can be of little comfort, I want to believe that everything happens for a reason, though we may never know just why.
I like that the eyes of the gentleman in "Stoker and George" (I haven't figured out which is which) match the plumage of the parakeet.
DeleteStoker is the Duke of Devonshire. His son, Bill Burlington, is featured further down the list.
DeleteGorgeous realism, Mark. Thanks for the intro. Somehow I hadn't run across Michael Leonard's work before. I like the Portraits in Time very much.
ReplyDeleteDear Yvette,
DeleteYears ago (when I was in my twenties) I did a self-portrait as a daguerreotype. Lokking at Leonard's Portraits in Time, I wish I had continued in that vein!
Hello Mark, Sometimes one spots people in old paintings or ancient sculpture who look curiously modern (I think that some of these came up in connection wit your Pompeii project), and Michael Leonard's Portraits in Time seem to work this from the opposite perspective.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello, Jim,
DeleteThanks for your comment! As you can see, your mention of sculptures reminded me of a wonderful spread that Horizon Magazine did long before Michael Leonard's clever work. Yes, you're right, time-traveling works in both directions, and sometimes life imitates art, and sometimes life imitates art imitating life, and sometimes . . .