THE ART OF "PAPA DUKE" ERINGER

Born in 1924, Ellis Eringer was a jazz drummer, acted on Broadway, and drew animation for Walt Disney. In 1969 Papa Duke moved to London to focus on fine art. He discovered Padre Pio, the intercessionist. It is believed portraits Papa Duke painted of Padre Pio helped heal the illnesses of those to whom he gifted those icons. One of his large portraits of Padre Pio graces a wall inside St. Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco. Papa Duke died in 2008. This blog reveres his memory.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

VINCENT VAN GOGH

An admirer of Francis Bacon, Papa Duke's portraits were rarely complimentary to their subjects.

Papa Duke worked long and hard on this portrait of Vincent van Gogh, changing it several times over several years, until it finally reflected the haunted nature of Van Gogh's soul.

Oil-on-board, 15.5 x 11.5, 1990s.