John F. Kennedy: A Beautiful Pastel Portrait, Done from Life in 1961. This large portrait is one of several done from a live sitting by renowned portrait artist Louis Lupas. Lupas honed his skills doing artwork for the theater department of the New York Herald Tribune in the 1950s. Senator Barry Goldwater took note of his work, and suggested that he come to Washington to do portraits of prominent political figures and statesmen, for which he became quite well known. While the precise details seem to have been lost, available biographies state that newly-elected President Kennedy sat for the artist, who then executed several 1961-dated pastel portraits. One very similar to the image offered here was sold by Heritage in an Oct. 31, 2004 auction, where it brought $43,000.

Lupas's pastel strokes are bold, vigorous, and direct, and his Kennedy portraits must be ranked among the very best which were done during his presidential years. The present example measures 23.5" x 30", framed to 31" x 38.5". It is signed and dated by the artist in the lower left-hand corner.