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Finally, a portrait of President Trump that he really liked.
In a framed painting captured in the background of a "60-minute" interview at the White House, Mr. Trump sits among the Republican presidents of the previous century and a half, as he writes. had just made a foolishness that drew the laughter of passionate people. from Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon.
This representation of Mr. Trump has a lean physique and a bright smile. His dazzling white blouse and daring red tie make him the undeniable focal point of the scene.
Andy Thomas, the 61-year-old artist behind the work, said he received a call from Mr. Trump a few weeks ago, who said he was delighted with the painting. Representative Darrell Issa, a California Republican, had given him a gift.
"One thing he specifically mentioned was that he generally did not like portraits of himself," Thomas said Tuesday. "But he said that he really liked that one."
After the viewers had spotted the fanciful painting Sunday, during the broadcast of the interview, the image and the artist behind it received a burst of reporting and memes part of everyday life on the Internet.
Issa, who sees Thomas as a friend, handed Trump the framed painting last summer, the spokesman for the congressman said. Mr. Issa has two paintings of Mr. Thomas exhibited in his own office.
In the painting on Mr. Trump's wall, titled "The Republican Club," the president – drinking a light coke – sits with a group of past presidents in a private club. Ronald Reagan smiles broadly. Theodore Roosevelt places his foot on a chair as if he were in a Wild West living room. Even Richard Nixon, who has resigned from shame, gets a seat and a glass of red wine.
Mr. Thomas, of Carthage, Missouri, said that he liked to refine the appearance of his subjects, while making them look like themselves. Although he hesitated to speculate on Mr. Trump's psychology around the painting, he said he hoped the president would appreciate having the opportunity to court the Lincoln. (Mr. Trump compared himself to Lincoln in the past.)
This may have prompted Mr. Trump to feel that he was part of a special clique. "When they arrive for the first time, they probably do not feel at home," said Thomas.
The press office of the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the board.
Although he's a bit of a libertarian, Mr. Thomas said he supported Mr. Trump. But his work does not focus exclusively on Republicans. In addition to three paintings of Republican presidents throughout history, he also created images of Democratic presidents also playing the role of pals.
Cara A. Finnegan, professor of communication at the University of Illinois who studies the history of photography and presidential portrait, said the painting reminded her of other popular prints using the images of former presidents to strengthen the reputation of contemporaries.
For example, a 1866 engraving created after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln shows that he is greeted by George Washington while he is climbing to heaven.
"The idea is to associate the current presidents with the mythical presidents of the past," said Ms. Finnegan.
And a stereograph of 1902, a popular photographic form of the time that gave a three-dimensional effect, shows two girls praying for portraits of Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield and William McKinley, all victims of killers. The photo was titled "The Presidents Martyrs".
Ms Finnegan added that another part of the allure of seeing the former presidents side by side, is the image of the presidential fellowship. Recently, a photo of former presidents still alive at Barbara Bush's funeral, accompanied by their wives, became viral. Mr. Trump was not present.
Paul Staiti, a professor of fine arts at Mount Holyoke College, likened Thomas's painting to Cassius Marcellus Coolidge's famous poker dog series. In fact, in two other paintings of Republicans and Democrats, the former presidents did exactly that.
Although it may seem that only a few presidents appear in the table, Mr. Thomas said that all Republican presidents in history are stuck in the frame. Some, like Calvin Coolidge, are watching the elite group in the background.
Also in the background, Mr. Thomas painted the slightly blurred portrait of a woman heading for the table of politicians. He imagined this as the first Republican woman in the presidency, confidently heading for the boys club and asserting himself. (He painted a similar female figure in the Democratic table.)
The media has been on the front page of the toughest media this week, bringing a deluge of Internet reviews that he said he found vicious. Mr. Thomas stated that he had never claimed that his art was "high forehead".
On the plus side, people control their impressions like crazy.
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