Will George Washington be ushered to the White House door as well?!!

Berkeley No. 52 by Richard Diebenkorn

National Gallery of Art

As mentioned in the previous post, pretty Dolly Madison will be taken off the walls of the White House, ushered out so-to-speak, however I suspect that George will stay put. Ok, its a new day, a new beginning. But, what is going ON? The art on the walls of the White House, is changing! Is Michelle is not delighted with the old fashioned flair of this magnificent Stuart portrait? and what about Stuart's GEORGE WASHINGTON?

(Now, actually, I don't feel so bad that my family was not 'enthralled' with the Samuel Meeker portrait. I felt guilty about it, but NO LONGER!)

from the Wall St Journal May 22, 2009: "The Obamas are sending ripples through the art world as they put the call out to museums, galleries and private collectors that they’d like to borrow modern art by African-American, Asian, Hispanic and female artists for the White House. In a sharp departure from the 19th-century still lifes, pastorals and portraits that dominate the White House’s public rooms, they are choosing bold, abstract art works....The National Gallery of Art has loaned the family at least five works this year, including “Numerals, 0 through 9,” a lead relief sculpture by Jasper Johns, “Berkeley No. 52,” a splashy large-scale painting by Richard Diebenkorn..."

A White House spokeswoman says the Obamas enjoy all types of art but want to “round out the permanent collection” and “give new voices” to modern American artists of all races and backgrounds.
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We will miss her, she saved the George Washington portrait below from being burned by the British, risking her own life!

1797 -- Gilbert Stuart immortalized George Washington with this historic portrait, one of the first pieces of art hung in the White House. In 1800, the White House paid $800 for the painting -- a significant sum in those days.

(However, Stuart subsequently disavowed this copy of his orginal portrait of the President, called the Lansdowne portrait.)

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