Artist: Ron Rundo
Title: Robert E. Lee
Year created: 2008
Medium: Original, Unique Oil on Canvas
Edition: Original, Unique Oil on Canvas
Height (inches): 40
Width (inches): 30
Depth (inches): 1.5
This piece is unframed.
Signed by the artist
Includes a certificate of authenticity.
Description of piece: Ron Rundo's striking historic portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is a unique, original work, oil on canvas, and measures 40" in height x 30" width. Synthesizing Rundo's mastery of painting - his training and study of the old masters' painting style is evident - with his use of tonality, black and white, and light, this great work is reminiscent of the visuals of historic photographs. The painting is from Rundo's Great American Series.
This work bears the artist's signature in the lower left corner of the canvas, and is gallery wrapped, ready for display. It is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and Certificate of Appraisal.
Lee commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. Despite revisionist representations of Lee as being anti-slavery, Lee resisted the emancipation of slaves on the Arlington plantation inherited from his wife's father, step-grandson of George Washington. Under Lee's command, troops were allowed to raid settlements to capture Free Blacks for enslavement. After the war, Lee served as President of what is now Washington and Lee University, supporting President Andrew Johnson's program of Reconstruction, while opposing proposals to give freed slaves the vote and take the vote away from ex-Confederates.
Artist bio: Ron Rundo, born and educated in New York, studied oil painting and figurative drawing at the Arts Student League in New York City, and went on to study painting for several years at the renowned John Frederick Murray Studio. Rundo paints like an Old Master, his paintings imbued with a brilliant, masterful inner light, with the old tradition blended with Rundo's evolved technique and methods of application, resulting in his accomplished and distinctive style.
Rundo's stunning portraits of historical figures range from American presidents, military figures and Native Americans. His work appears timeless, potentially contemporary or historic. In addition to his striking portraiture, Rundo is an internationally recognized designer and illustrator of postage stamps. Commissioned work includes large-scale murals, miniatures, classical figure paintings and sculpture, with clients including John Guare, Howard Stern and Sidney Sheldon.
"These paintings express my interpretation of the world and illustrate my dedication to the classical style of painting. Employing this style, I strive to enhance and heighten the beauty found in nature, attempting to elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary." - Ron Rundo