Free Republic

A 1989 photograph of Donald Trump tossing a red apple was installed today at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The museum is known for having one of two complete collections of presidential portraits, the other belonging to the White House. This portrait of President-elect Donald Trump, however, isn't one of those official presidential portraits. The image by photographer Michael O'Brien became part of the museum's collection in 2011 as a gift from Bill and Sally Wittliff, along with 16 other portraits taken by O'Brien. While it wasn't known at the time that the photograph would one day...

US De Blasio Removes Paintings Of Founding Fathers, Replaces Them With More Diverse Artwork Emma Colton Contributor New York City’s de Blasio family reportedly trashed paintings of founding fathers in the mayor’s mansion and replaced them with more diverse historical figures. According to the New York Post, the Big Apple’s mayoral family junked a handful of paintings depicting George Washington and other unspecified founding fathers from the historical Yellow Parlor in the Gracie Mansion for more diverse artifacts that will reportedly better represent the history of America. The Yellow Parlor, where guests of New York’s mayor have been entertained for...

RENOWNED Bucks County portrait artist Nelson Shanks has painted everyone from Princess Diana to President Bill Clinton and from Pope John Paul II to Marisa Tomei. He and his wife, Leona, are the founders of Studio Incamminati, an art school on 12th Street near Callowhill. On a recent Friday, as the north light of a chilly afternoon flooded his Andalusia studio, Shanks, 77, chain smoked cigarettes and drank Diet Cokes while painting Gabrielle, a beautiful young belly dancer, on a 7-by-5-foot canvas. Following his 7-hour session with Gabrielle, Shanks spoke with Stephanie Farr about a hidden secret in his portrait...

**SNIP** The country’s 42nd president was “terrified” to be painted by Shanks, who has done portraits of Princess Diana and Pope John Paul II. But he hid all fears with a relaxed smirk and bold stance. The work now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. When Clinton was not in the room, Shanks says he set up a mannequin sporting a blue dress he likened to Lewinsky.

You’ve seen it: the iconic portrait of the first President, one hand clutching a sword, the other arm outstretched over an ornate table that is artfully mussed. Below this table are a few books: General Orders, American Revolution, and The Constitution and Laws of the United Sates. You read that right: The country is identified as the United Sates, not the United States. This masterpiece hangs in the East Room, the luxurious White House salon that holds social events and ceremonies, where the President hosts dignitaries from other countries and honors Americans for their contributions to society. And yet, the...

Washington D.C. is big on tradition, and one of those traditions involves official portraits of top government officials. The Defense Department just awarded a $31,200 contract (frame included) to Portraits, Inc. for an official portrait of former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta: The Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate issued a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order for the painting and delivery of the official oil portrait for the former Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, as required by the Department of Defense. This portrait shall be executed by an artist experienced in commissions of Presidential Cabinet Level or other Senior/High Ranking Officials. The...

The digital age might have another victim: Sears has shut down its portrait studio, at least for now, after the photography company that has been snapping family portraits for the chain since 1959 abruptly closed up shop, reports the Wall Street Journal. CPI Corp. also ran studios at Walmart and Babies "R" Us, and all three retailers are scrambling to figure out next steps. Sears is "exploring all options" to resume portrait services, says the company. It was just a matter of time, writes Chris Gampat at the Phoblographer blog. People are taking their own photos with their own digital...

CINCINNATI — A Jesus portrait that has hung in a southern Ohio school district since 1947 was taken down Wednesday, because of concerns about the potential costs of a federal lawsuit against its display. The superintendent of Jackson City Schools said the decision was made after the district’s insurance company declined to cover litigation expenses. He said the faculty adviser and two student members of the Hi-Y Club, a Christian-based service club that the school says owns the portrait, took it down at his direction. “At the end of the day, we just couldn’t roll the dice with taxpayer money,”...

A once in a lifetime opportunity to bid on this fine art masterpiece!

Answer -here-

The 13th year of Haifa University's archeological digs at the Susita site just east of the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) has yielded several surprises, including what experts believe is a portrait of a local man from the 3rd century CE, carved into a basalt gravestone. Susita – as it is known in the Aramaic version – was originally known by the Latin name Hippos. Both names refer to horses, although the reason for this name is not known. It was destroyed by the earthquake of 749 CE. Archeologist Dr. Michael Eisenberg explained that the "Susita man" rock was found in...

This is a great speech! Nice to actually see George W. Bush back in the House. Funny, compelling speech! Ck it out!

Apparently, as with so many other things, some people who hold the Presidency have class and some don’t. To all appearances, former President George W. Bush is the former, and current President Barack Obama is the latter, at least if this afternoon‘s unveiling of former President Bush’s Presidential portrait is any guide. This event – which is, at least in theory, supposed to be free of partisan sniping, got an earful of just that when President Obama gave his introductory remarks welcoming Bush: President Obama on Thursday twisted the knife he‘d stuck in his predecessor’s legacy, reminding former President George...

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: They're unveiling the portraits of President Bush and Laura Bush right now at the White House in the East Room. President Obama is doing the honors. People have been anticipating this because Obama has made it clear that every problem we face in this country is because of the guy in the room whose portrait is being unveiled today. This today, to me, is kind of a miniature version of the White House Correspondents Dinner where everybody fakes it for a while, in interests of decorum (and also it's worth it). But Obama does not believe a...

Bush to return to White House to unveil official portraitBy ANI | ANI – 25 minutes ago Washington, May 19 (Xinhua-ANI): Former U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to return to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait honored by sitting President Barack Obama later this month, both Bush's office and the White House confirmed Friday.

Not what you would think, Not what you are being told… I was walking through the campus listening to the sounds of the various instruments being played by young musicians. It was like a bouquet of sounds, not really mixed well as the variety of types of music being played was as diverse as the students playing. Jazz, Classical, Rock, an Oud playing classic Arabic tunes, and the whispers of Klezmer seeping through. Long hair, Short hair, Shorts, Sandals, like I said…as diverse as the students playing. Another first day of classes, this is obviously notyour “regular” educational program… the...

VATICAN CITY — In the days after Pope Benedict XVI was elected April 19, 2005, the phone was ringing off the hook at the CNS photo desk in Washington. People wanted photos of the new pope, with many wanting the official portrait. I remember working the desk during that time and telling people that an official portrait had not been released but we expected that the Vatican would provide one. I was struck by how insistent people were on obtaining the official portrait.The one and only official portrait. ©L'Osservatore Romano On April 28 that year, two photos arrived from the...

Move over Martha Washington. Martha Stewart and Michelle Obama are getting space in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington for the first time. A new exhibit, "Americans Now," opened Friday, featuring famous names from science, business, government and the arts. President Barack Obama and the first lady are among those portrayed. It's the first time Michelle Obama's individual portrait has been shown at the gallery.

It's back again, now at $3,250.00. It was way over 6000 bucks last time.The item description has been drastically edited, old Charlie the Quisling must be spending our money on lawyers now!

Tallahassee, Florida — The Florida GOP says they're planning to dump a portrait of the formerly Republican Governor Charlie Crist on eBay. But the one that went up for sale on April 30 isn't theirs. The Florida GOP cut ties with Crist last week after he announced he's going to run for Senate as an independent. They're removed his signature from their letterhead. And they announced they'll be selling a $7500 portrait of him on eBay.