The Honorable James McGirr Kelly

[Garth Herrick]

The Honorable James McGirr Kelly was made the 55th Judge to serve on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since the Court's creation in 1789. Appointed by President Reagan in 1983, he was highly respected, and served ably until he passed away several months ago at 76 years of age.

My misfortune was never getting to meet him except through the recount of his family, colleagues and staff. Through them and a staff photographer who captured Judge Kelly at his prime, about fifteen years ago, and a son of the Judge who willingly modeled his robe for me, I was able to get sufficient resource material for this portrait, commissioned a couple of months ago for the Court.

The resource image was handsome. Judge Kelly posed modestly behind the chair wearing his finest three-piece navy suit, and in front of the many stacks of law case books paneling the interior wall of his judicial chambers. By request of his family, and the Historical Society of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, who commissioned me, Judge Kelly was to stand symbolically beside an American Flag, and be dressed for the bench in his robe.

Fitting his robe over his suit in a virtual manner in the painting presented some challenges. Twice, Judge Kelly's son modeled the robe as he had identical build and height. At times I tried the robe on too and stood in front of a mirror to double-check out the natural fall of a sleeve. One of these days I will just have to acquire a robe of my own. They are so expressive and fun to arrange, and different every time.

Judge Kelly's son also stood in for his father to help me out with the skin coloration. I don't like to put much trust into photographs. They can really mislead in that regard, and it was most helpful studying a living subject.

This portrait was formally unveiled this past Thursday morning, June 23rd, 2005

The Honorable James McGirr Kelly
Oil on linen,
42" x 36"
The Historical Society for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
2005

Thanks for viewing!

Garth

[Garth Herrick]

The ceremony and unveiling took place in the Ceremonial Courtroom at 6th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. A couple hundred were in attendance, every active Judge of this court, sitting ceremonially on the two tiers of benches. Many spoke of Judge Kelly's kindness, generosity and distinctly Irish quick wit and humor.

Unfortunately cameras were not permitted for the Special Session of the Court. (At least not my camera)

Following the ceremony was a luncheoun at the Downtown Club, just two blocks away and overlooking Independence Hall. "Lunch" rather a dinner, was served for at least three-hundred in sumptious surroundings.

Of the photos here:
1. The program cover.
2. The Courthouse at 6th and Market Streets
3. The Downtown Club dining room.
4. The view down to Independence Hall

If you ever come to visit the District Courthouse, the Portrait is expected to hang in Courtroom 8A.

By the way, new Forum member Alexandra Tyng has a fine portrait hanging in Courtroom 10A.

Garth

[Jimmie Arroyo]

Another incredibly executed piece. (Like we would expect different!) What I did notice is that the face looks a bit more painterly than some of the others, am I just seeing things?

Congratulations.

[Garth Herrick]

Thanks Jimmie,

Your assessment of the face is fair, and I appreciate your insight. I would like to be even more paintrly. This painting was completed within a smaller time frame than usual, to meet the pre-existing schedule of the ceremony. Without a doubt, I would have indulged more on the face, had I had more months to expend, but I am happy with it. From several feet away, as one would normally view it, it seems to pull together satisfactorily.

Garth

[Garth Herrick]

On a side note, I thought I should mention that I deliberately chose to maintain a warm cast to the light bathing the flag and figure. Yet not too much so. This was to reflect the incandescent origin of the principal light source. Ironically, I painted this in a full-spectrum fluorescent light, so that I could see and manage the slightly warm painted light with some confidence and accuracy. The brightest highlights are cooler in temperature. It just feels better that way. I wanted this warm glow to reflect the inherent native warmth of Judge Kelly's personality.

Following this warm path, meant keeping the red and blue in a warm key in the flag among other things, so the blue is less blue than one would expect. None of the whites are even closely related to a pure white.

Garth

[Ngaire Winwood]

Bang, thump.......ouch....

Garth your painting just blew me off my chair.

Unbelievably brilliant!

Thank you for also sharing the process with us. Something we can only hope to aspire to. Although I think I could be around 124 years old when and if, I ever achieve to this level.

[Sharon Knettell]

Garth,

I do love the painterly quality of the face. Not to be silly, but the flag has a luscious quality to it as well. Beautiful warm portrait apparently befitting the subject himself . I do wish sometimes someone would take the brush out of my hang before I noodle it too much.

Between you and Alexandra, you must be literally covering the walls of Philadelphia's municipal buildings.

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Sharon Knettell

Garth,

I do love the painterly quality of the face. Not to be silly, but the flag has a luscious quality to it as well. Beautiful warm portrait apparently befitting the subject himself . I do wish sometimes someone would take the brush out of my hang before I noodle it too much.

Between you and Alexandra, you must be literally covering the walls of Philadelphia's municipal buildings.

Dear Sharon,

I never feel your masterpieces are ever over noodled, they are always satifying, chromatically balanced, and inspiring.

Alex and I still have a lot of walls to cover in Philadelphia. There are still many potential portraits. I have to wait until August to really get started on the next one for this District Courthouse. Finally, a Judge who is very much still alive, although presently on vacation.

Garth