Artist Don Bachardy's unpopular portrait of Jerry Brown gets renewed attention

Now that Jerry Brown will be returning to the California governor's office after defeating Meg Whitman in Tuesday's election, pundits have begun to speculate on the details of his upcoming term. One item that isn't likely to be high on his list of priorities but that nonetheless has drawn renewed attention from Sacramento's KCRA television station is the fate of an  unpopular portrait of Brown by artist Don Bachardy.

The portrait was created to commemorate Brown's first tenure as governor of California, from 1975 to 1983. By some accounts, the painting drew criticism from various state politicians who didn't care for the artist's quasi-abstract visual interpretation of the then-governor.

A 1984 article in People magazine stated that the painting was so unpopular that it was banished to a third-floor landing in the state Capitol building, prompting the artist to remark: "If you saw some of the paintings hanging in the Capitol, you'd see why I am not at all insulted that my portrait of Brown is not among them."

Bachardy, long-associated with the Santa Monica art scene, is an accomplished portrait painter but he is perhaps best known for his long-term personal relationship with the writer Christopher Isherwood.

The artist's painting of Brown broke with a long-standing aesthetic tradition of gubernatorial portraits that favored realism over more adventurous styles.

In his book "Stars in My Eyes," Bachardy wrote that working with Brown on the portrait wasn't always easy due to the politician's "defensiveness" and seeming unease with the project. At one point, Bachardy recalled that "the sitting was an ordeal for both of us and made me wish that I could find a way to get my kicks without suffering such stress."

The official website of the California State Capitol Museum states that the practice of commissioning California's gubernatorial portraits began in 1879 and was made official in 1931.

Brown told KCRA that the Bachardy portrait looks "unfinished" to him and that it reflects "his unfinished work while in office."

-- David Ng

RECENT AND RELATED:

Arts in the California governor's race

'Tea Party Coloring Book' is kiddie propaganda art

Glenn Beck puts on his tin-foil art critic's hat -- again

 

Photo (top): Don Bachardy's portrait of Jerry Brown. Credit: California Department of General Services

Photo (bottom): Jerry Brown. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

 

 

Comments

[Mike]

I love it!

[Phyllis]

Unpopular portrait? With whom? Anyone who has been to Sacramento and walked by the row of dark, somber and pretentious pictures of California's former governors will see the Bachardy portrait as a breath of fresh air.

[mares martin]

How exactly is Brown's portrait "unpopular"? It is literally the only California governor's portrait that anyone expresses any interest in whatsoever.

[Glenn T. Webb]

This painting does exactly what a true portrait should do, namely, bring into the clear light of day the personality of the subject. Brown's rather fierce concern for justice and thoughtfulness towards others comes across loud and clear in a painting that on its own merits is a masterpiece.

[william wray]

I love it-- It expresses his awkward fit into the political world. He's always been an unfinished work in progress.

[Donald Frazell]

It is appropriate, however, not very good. Works that were considered bad when created and actually great, as those by Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso, came to be seen as expressIVE and reflective of life with time. This is still but an awkward art student type sketch, if the world was the best of all possible places, and Dr Pangloss hadnt taken over the art world.

Who doesnt like it? Obviously those who have to pass by it and see it every day even after decades. It's wilfully naive without the virtue of a Rousseau, in other words, still decadent.

It is time to put aside childish things.

[Dr. Carol Jong]

I love this portrait! It reflects the 'push the boundaries' of Governor Brown, that has made him a visionary, legacy and our next leader.

[theodore Schraff]

I LIKE this portrait! And I like Gov. elect Jerry! Now let's all get to work to help California and the nation progress, not REGRESS!

[Hugh]

I wonder if Jerry will use the same artist for his next portrait. It will be interesting to see both portraits side by each regardless...

[once a Californian]

Perhaps not a masterpiece but it represents well its time and place. Brown's comment is both gracious and intelligent. Credit all around. I hope there will be another Brown portrait that is similarly unconventional.

[warrenchu000]

His painting is sitting between Dukemejian's and Reagan's on the third floor of the state Capitol, not banished in anyway.

[Will]

I live in Sacramento and I love this painting. It is an incredible portrait. I make it a point to take out of towners to see it. So much better than the others, and wonderful that it is currently juxtaposed with Reagan, Dukmejian, and Pete "pocket pool" Wilson. Jerry, you should own up to this fine work.

[Brian]

It is not "unpopular" I work in the state Capitol and the tourists often stop to take their picture with the portrait. It is easily the most popular and provoking piece of art in the building (although small children also like Schwarzenegger's bear).

[rickinla]

terrible portrait, nothing to do with style, but this looks amateurish or done by a freshman art student(high school) and this coming from someone who loves Picasso, Matisse, and others who were brave and willing to experiment and redifine the meaning of aesthetics. this portrait is and never will be famous for anything but it's low level of draftmanship or sophistication.