Note on Art

Note on Art

A note from LeRoy Neiman, providing two anecdotes (one concerning Dali and the other regarding a football player) written in preparation for his memoir.

This note from LeRoy Neiman provides two humorous accounts. The first involves Neiman meeting his likeness—Salvador Dali—at a Hammer Galleries reception. The second exists as a punny story about painting a deceased football player. Both scenarios have been repeated in a variety of notes written in preparation for the artist’s memoir, All Told.

LeRoy Neiman

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

c. 1990-2011

LeRoy Neiman

Property of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation; please consult the organization's archivist for further details.

Notes

Image/jpeg

English

Document

LN_Notes_1294

New York (N.Y.) New York

One time, maybe 25 years ago, at Knoedler Gallery I was passing for a photo with stablemate Salvador Dali when Victor Hammer, my dealer, came charging over and orders, “LeRoy (put your cigar away!) get rid of the cigar! and Dali intervenes “NO, keep cigar, good props!”
The cigar is was likeness (at 25) as was the mustache. I developed both needs as a teenager. It aided to (a) visage that needed help. I cringe at the thought of my face naked.
Another element that makes a successful portrait is life and expression.
I remember when I painted a posthumous portrait of an NFL football coach who was being memorialized at the Banquet at the Waldorf. At the last minute a photo of the diseased was messenger[?] requesting I do a portrait for that next evening. I did it overnight. Next morning Mother, who was in my studio, peers at the work and immediately blurts out “That man looks embalmed.”
(Painting a portrait is always touchy)
(THIS SELF PORTRAIT WAS DONE AS I BELIEVE I LOOKED 25 years ago. FLAUNTING WITH THE SAME PROPS. I WONDER IF I (EVER) LOOKED SO GOOD)

Felt-tipped pen on paper.