[QUOTE] I think that the forum

I'd paint myself and freely indulge in shameless flattery. Not having the stress of thinking that a client might be critical nor worrying about liking the painted result appeals to me.

Karen,

You go girl. Why not have the best.

My top picks would be painterly guys like Morgan Weistling, Skip Liepke, Jeremy Lipking, Richard Schmidt. I think none of these guys accept portrait commissions anyway, but this is a fantasy, right?

The Easiest Question, By Far...
 

Why, it would be.......Lucian Freud!

Yes, I admire Mr. Schmidt, whom I benefited from in a great deal.

BEST PAINTERS
Musea is beginning a series of the best painters of the Western World (Renaissance to now). We start with PORTRAIT PAINTERS. Who's the best? Our choices may surprise you.

* * *

Best Painters: Portraits

Best Mother & Child Painters: Mary Cassatt. This "American in Paris' became an Impressionist (with a little help from Degas). But her to-this-day, way undervalued mother & child paintings are the best there are. These children LOOK like they're related (no easy task) and the bond between mother and child was never better painted (or chalked). Runners up: Raphael, the rock star of the Renaissance loved ladies and they loved him, and it shows in his Madonna with child paintings. Renoir. He idealized his woman and children but he was never cloying. How did he do that?

Best Painters of the High & Mighty: Diego Rodriguesz De Silva Velazquez. The painter's painter (and perhaps the worlds best) did everything right. His portraits are set in real space somehow, and they have, not skin but layers of skin. He was stuck with the protruding lip, fat jawed King Phillip IV, but he managed some extraordinary portraits of other, more interesting people of the Spanish court. Runners up: Holbein the Younger. Court painter to King Henry VIII (he kept his head while painting) Erasmus, Thomas More, Henry and the rest. An amazing mix of dignity and stillness; plus, he drew portraits even better. Titian. His 99? Years gave him time to do all the notables of that time, and develope a hazy style that preceded the Impressionists by a zillion years.

Best Painters of the Working & Meek: a tie between 2 Netherlanders: Bruegel & Van Gogh. Bruegel, 'the peasant painter' was better than almost anyone at painting the masses - working or playing. Ex. See his 'Children's Games' with all the contemporary children's games categorized in paint. And Van Gogh: Vincent lived, worked, and zealously praised the working men (though they thought he was NUTS) He painted not kings & queens - but weavers, farmers, and the postman.

Best Religious Painter: El Greco. Gaze at one of his many paintings of Saints - enough said!

Best Modern Portrait Painter: Modigliani. The Italian did nothging BUT portraits (that and drinking). A mix of African art, and vivid color make these portraits very special. Note those of his wife Jeanne, who committed suicide soon after Modi's death.

And Finally

Best Portrait Painter of Them All: Frans Hals. No one did people better period. He could do laughing children with all the innocence of a child or a stooped old lady with all the cares of the world on her shoulders (see the portrait in the Houston Museum of Art) or even a group of hardy musketeers. Fleeting moments - ageless moments, they're all here. And always these people ENGAGE you eye to eye (and often laughing in good humor as they do) Few works but all very fine!

Runners up: Rembrandt had better technical skill than Hals, and was and is more famous for his more emotional and diverse work. Goya painted everybody from Kings to madmen (see the Meadows insane asylum painting). An enlightened painter with a deep humanity.

(And still we haven't talked about Rubens, Durer, Van Dyke, Eakins, ... sorry - no more room on this canvas!)