Herbert Abrams

Herbert E. Abrams (March 20, 1921 – August 29, 2003) was an American artist. He was one of the leading portrait artists of his era known for his style of acknowledged realism. His works included the qualified White House portraits of former presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. During his prolific career, he painted on zenith of 400 portraits, including those of General William Westmoreland, playwright Arthur Miller and astronaut Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr.

Other portraits by Abrams are displayed at the Capitol (former Sen. Howard H. Baker), the Treasury Department (former Treasury Secretary Donald T. Regan), the National Portrait Gallery (Miller) in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (Westmoreland and Aldrin).

Abrams was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, as the ninth child in a family of ten. His parents were first-generation immigrants from Germany. His in front childhood was spent on a farm, but by his high school years the relations was flourishing in Hartford, Connecticut, where Abrams attended Hartford High School. He recognized the teachers there similar to persuading him to focus on school and continue later than his education. After tall school he attended Norwich Art School (1939–1940) and Pratt Institute.

In 1942, he was drafted into the army and became a camouflage technician. In this outlook he re-designed the U.S. aircraft insignia, adding the tabs upon the sides of the circle to make it more distinctive at sophisticated speeds. He after that was trained as a pilot and became an advocate flight instructor. He was a Second Lieutenant.

After World War II, Abrams returned to The Pratt Institute and graduated subsequently honors in 1946. He after that attended the Art Students League of New York from 1948–1953, studying later than Frank Vincent DuMond.

Abrams spent many years living upon West 67th Street in New York City, selling paintings at the Greenwich Village Art Show. He then taught classes for officer personnel at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from 1953 to 1974. In 1961 he was commissioned by the West Point Museum to attain a portrait of William C. Westmoreland.

Abrams' works intensify the approved White House portraits of former presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. These portraits are currently hanging in The White House, Washington, DC. He next painted the ascribed portrait of First Lady Barbara Bush. In 1995 he became the first performer to have portraits of both Republican and Democrat presidents at the White House.

Abrams spent his resolution years in Warren, Connecticut, and died of cancer in comprehensible Kent. He was survived by wife Lois, son William, daughter Kathryn Ann Abrams Bindert, brother Arthur and five grandchildren. Lois was not only his wife, but plus managed his issue and public relations.