[Duke Ellington - "God Is Love" watercolor, 14"x20" National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Tony Bennett. (PRNewsFoto/RPM Productions)]
The Urban Music Scene
Acquisition of Bennett's Ellington Portrait Is the Third Painting of Bennett's To Be Part Of A Smithsonian Collection
Acquisition of Bennett's Ellington Portrait Is the Third Painting of Bennett's To Be Part Of A Smithsonian Collection
NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Tony Bennett has donated one of his original paintings to the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery's which has been accepted to their collection. Bennett's watercolor painting of Duke Ellington titled "God Is Love" marks his third painting that has been included in Smithsonian collections. In 2006, Bennett's oil painting of Central Park was accepted into the Smithsonian American Art Museum's permanent collection and in 2002, his portrait of Ella Fitzgerald was acquired by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The 15-time Grammy Award winning singer has an established reputation as an accomplished visual artist who been painting all his life.
Martin Sullivan, director of the National Portrait Gallery said, "We are thrilled to have this painting. Think of it: Anthony Benedetto -- Tony Bennett -- the son of Italian immigrants, portraying his mentor Duke Ellington, the grandson of a slave. There was great affection between these two outstanding contributors to America's musical heritage." [Full Post] [Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899-1974) composed classical music as well as jazz and is profiled at AfriClassical.com]
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