Object Details
- Artist
- Nelson Shanks, 23 Dec 1937 - 28 Aug 2015
- Sitter
- Denyce Graves, born 7 Mar 1964
- Exhibition Label
- Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves (born 1964) is an internationally acclaimed opera superstar. An elegant stage personality, she combines rich vocalism with exciting theatricality. Graves made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1995 as Carmen, which, along with Dalila in Samson et Dalila, remains one of her signature roles. She has also established herself as a highly sought-after recitalist, and her “Cathedral Christmas” concert for PBS has been a holiday mainstay since 1997. After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Graves sang in the National Prayer Service held in the Washington National Cathedral. She is on the voice faculty of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Nelson Shanks pictured Graves in performance, with Marc Mostovoy (born 1942), the former artistic director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, as her accompanist. In an interview, Graves spoke of posing for Shanks: “Sometimes it felt like a dance. I could actually feel where he was on my face—my mouth or my eyes.”
- La mezzosoprano Denyce Graves (n. 1964) es una aclamada superestrella internacional de la ópera. A su elegante presencia escénica, se añade un rico vocalismo y un intenso sentido teatral. Graves debutó en la Metropolitan Opera en 1995 como Carmen, personaje que junto al de Dalila en Sansón y Dalila sigue siendo uno de sus roles distintivos. También es muy solicitada como recitalista, y su concierto “Cathedral Christmas” para la PBS es todo un evento desde 1997. Después de los trágicos sucesos del 11 de septiembre de 2001, Graves cantó en el servicio nacional de oración que se efectuó en la Catedral Nacional de Washington. Es profesora de canto en el Conservatorio de Música Peabody en Baltimore, Maryland.
- Nelson Shanks pintó a Graves en plena actuación, acompañada por Marc Mostovoy (n. 1942), ex director artístico de la Orquesta de Cámara de Filadelfia. En una entrevista, Graves comentó que posar para Shanks “a veces parecía un baile. Podía sentir, literalmente, en qué parte de mi cara estaba... mi boca, mis ojos”.
- Provenance
- Commissioned by Ian Cumming
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Ian M. and Annette P. Cumming
- 1999
- Object number
- NPG.2019.113
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Estate of Nelson Shanks
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- Sight: 228.6 x 143.5cm (90 x 56 1/2")
- Frame: 256.5 x 164.5 x 7.6cm (101 x 64 3/4 x 3")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Music\Musical instrument\Piano
- Human Figures\Musician\Accompanist
- Denyce Graves: Female
- Denyce Graves: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer\Opera singer
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2019.113
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm445ffb40c-b27c-4492-8968-669a2ed535cb
