Ralph Wolfe Cowan
Ralph Wolfe Cowan
GIF of Ralph Wolfe Cowan.
Ralph Wolfe Cowan (December 16, 1931) is an American renowned painter known for his portraits of members of royal class society and celebrities. [undefined] [undefined] [undefined] He is considered to be the best portrait painter in the world for his recognition in painting more reigning monarchs and world leaders than any other painter in history. [undefined] He has painted Donald Trump and other member of his family, and in 2018 Cowan revealed that Trump asked for a free painting of Melania Trump before becoming the president of United States. [undefined]
Cowan has been featured on numerous international news and talk shows including Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, To Tell the Truth, Entertainment Tonight, "Texas Today," several Japanese programs and middle-eastern shows. [undefined] He has been a judge for Miss Universe and Miss USA. [undefined]
Biography
Early Life
Photo taken of Ralph Wolfe Cowan as part of a press campaign.
Cowan was born on December 16, 1931 to parents Joseph Carl and Daphne (Pearce) Cowan.
He was born in the city of Phoebus, in the state of Virginia, a state where he lived for most of his upbringing. He grew up in the city of Portsmouth during his early life and is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. [undefined]
At five years old, Cowan taught himself to paint with a set of oils he found at church.
[undefined] His ultra-religious parents discouraged it.
When he was eight, he painted a ship sailing against a background of clouds on his bedroom wall, and his mother threatened to whip him.
His father would often tell him that artists are a dime a dozen.
He and his three brothers would go see cowboy movies on Saturdays.
He chose the Technicolor musicals showing across the street instead.
From an early age, he found that portraiture was the perfect way to combine his passions for painting and celebrity.
He hoped to one day paint celebrities and also become friends with them.
Education
After high school, he moved to New York City and enrolled at Art Students' League in New York City. [undefined] [undefined] He attended the school for a year in 1940 to 1950 before enlisting in the army. [undefined] [undefined] [undefined] He would then return in 1954 and continue his studies until 1956. [undefined]
He has studied the premier portrait artists carefully, and developed an eye for history.
He was heavily influence by the works of Van Dyck’s particularly his 1635 portrait of C harles I, which was notable for its informal setting and the king’s casual posture. Cowan began to explore his portraits as enhancing his subjects’ nobility and splendor in their lives. [undefined]
U.S. Army
Ralph Wolfe Cowan painting of Prince Rainier III and his wife, Princess Grace, along with their children Prince Albert II, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie.
Painting
After graduating college, Cowan developed a reputation as a portrait painter amongst actors and other artists living in New York City. [undefined] One of his first clients were Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor, people whom he would also associate with. [undefined] He would go out dancing with Reynolds and Taylor and traveled with them throughout different major American cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. [undefined]
His other portrait done in 1956 was of Grace Kelly, which garnered attention from the royal family in Monaco and thus would begin his journey of being commissioned to paint portraits for royalty at a hefty price. Kelly called him a "maestro". [undefined]
He would eventually be given the title of "official portrait painter to the Family of Monaco”.
Elvis Presly
Ralph Wolfe Cowan's painting of Donald Trump.
In 1969, Elvis commissioned the only portrait of himself which now hangs in Graceland.
Patrons
H.M. Sultan of Brunei, H.M.
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, H.M.
King Hassan II of Morocco, H.H.
President Shaikh Zayed of the Emirates, the Royal Family of Monaco, President of Chile, President and Mrs. Marcos, President Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S.
Presidents Reagan, Carter, Johnson, and Kennedy.
Cowan has painted a portrait of Donald Trump and the rest of his family except Melania Trump. Before he became the president of the United States, Trump attempted to have Cowan paint a portrait of Melania for free. [undefined] [undefined]