The Chiefs

8"x8" (EACH) oil on masonite panel ••• The collector who commissioned me to do this series of 17 portraits is a unique individual—he is blessed with patience. He wanted to slowly savor the experience. To do this, he had me deliver only one to three pieces to him every six months. Therefore, this commission took me five years to complete. • Over the course of delivering these to the client, we fell into the habit of sitting down and talking about the Chiefs. I know a little about the Court, but the collector is extremely knowledgeable about it's history (and antics) and I love history (and antics). Presented well, history is as good as any novel and boy, the Court has an interesting history. It is a human institution with all the good and the bad that implies and humans make for good subject matter. • Another thing you learn is that being the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States is a job you would not wish on your worst enemy.

Posted October 7, 2019

sold • private collection beverly hills, ca

Number of chief justices: 17 
Jay, John (1789-1795) 
Rutledge, John (1795) 
Ellsworth, Oliver (1796-1800) 
Marshall, John (1801-1835) 
Taney, Roger Brooke (1836-1864) 
Chase, Salmon Portland (1864-1873) 
Waite, Morrison Remick (1874-1888) 
Fuller, Melville Weston (1888-1910) 
White, Edward Douglass (1910-1921) 
Taft, William Howard (1921-1930) 
Hughes, Charles Evans (1930-1941) 
Stone, Harlan Fiske (1941-1946) 
Vinson, Frederick Moore (1946-1953) 
Warren, Earl (1953-1969) 
Burger, Warren Earl (1969-1986) 
Rehnquist, William Hubbs (1986-2005) 
Roberts, John Glover, Jr. (2005-present)