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Gore Vidal, 1925-2012
Gore Vidal, a member of a prominent political family, has long been a close observer of American politics and society. A liberal social commentator and writer on current events, Vidal participated in a series of debates with William Buckley during the 1968 political conventions. Vidal is also an essayist and novelist, known for his cycle of historical novels, including Washington, D.C. (1967), Burr (1974), 1876 (1976), and Lincoln (1984). Also a playwright and screenwriter, Vidal was an uncredited "script doctor" for Ben Hur.
Sacha Newley painted this portrait for a series devoted to personalities in the arts. The sittings took place at Vidal's home in Ravello, Italy. At work on his memoir, Palimpsest, Vidal regaled the artist with stories of his life, including time spent with well-known Washington and Hollywood figures. Newley selected this low-angle pose to highlight Vidal's regal nature.
Sacha Newley, 1994 |