Ben Long
Encyclopedia
Ben Long is an American
painter and the grandson of noted artist McKendree Robbins Long.
, where he majored in Creative Writing under the guidance of his friend and advisor Reynolds Price
. Upon completing his University coursework at the insistence of his advisor Long moved to New York to immerse himself in the study of fine art.
In NYC, Long became a member of the Art Students League of New York
, studying under the guidance of such notable artists as Robert Beverly Hale
and Frank Mason
. Then, in 1969, Long preempted the draft by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served just over two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Marine Corps Combat Officer; during his last tour he served as Commander of the Combat Art Team, and much of his work from that period is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution
of Washington, D.C.
Upon leaving Vietnam, Long traveled to Florence, Italy, to apprentice himself to internationally-renowned Maestro Pietro Annigoni
. Long committed himself to Annigoni for almost eight years. His apprenticeship culminated in 1976, when he was awarded the prestigious Leonardo da Vinci International Art Award
.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ben Long and some of his students painted wet plaster frescoes on the walls of the two historic Ashe County, North Carolina
churches that form Holy Communion Episcopal Parish
.
In 1984, Long moved to France where, for the next 14 years, he split time between Paris and the Gard region of Provence. By the time of the move, Long had completed several frescoes in Italy - including a joint fresco
with Annigoni and the only work by a non-Italian at the Abbey of Montecassino. These works set the stage for several major fresco projects in the U.S. (13 to this day) including a dome and the largest secular fresco in the United States.
There have been in depth documentaries produced about two of his frescoes, these include Chapel of the Prodigal (completed with James Daniel, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner) and Shadow into light, both of which were produced by A New Light Productions, Inc. The videos depict the painting of Return of the Prodigal in Montreat, North Carolina
and Suffer the Little Children in Crossnore, NC respectively.
In addition to his prolific fresco work, Long has had works in the Royal Academy
as well as the Royal Portrait Society (London, UK). He has exhibited in Florence, London, Paris, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and is represented in major collections throughout Europe and the Americas. He has lived and worked in Europe for over thirty years and now divides his time between Europe and the United States.
In 2001, Long was awarded the coveted Arthur Ross Award for Excellence in the Classical Tradition (Classical America, New York, New York) by Philippe de Montebello
(current and longest-serving Curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Mr. de Montebello has referred to Ben Long as one of the greatest draftsmen of the 20th Century.
In 2002, Ben Long received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2005, the Art Renewal Center
added Ben Long to its Trademarked list of "Living Masters". Reynolds Price memorialized the pair's friendship by publishing a poem entitled "Ben Long's Drawing of Me".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter and the grandson of noted artist McKendree Robbins Long.
Background
Reared in a family of artists, writers, professors, and university presidents, Long was as precocious in his artistic ability as he was eager to apply it. At 18, Long followed his father's footsteps to the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he majored in Creative Writing under the guidance of his friend and advisor Reynolds Price
Reynolds Price
Reynolds Price was an American novelist, poet, dramatist, essayist and the James B. Duke Professor of English at Duke University. Apart from English literature, Price had a lifelong interest in ancient languages and Biblical scholarship...
. Upon completing his University coursework at the insistence of his advisor Long moved to New York to immerse himself in the study of fine art.
In NYC, Long became a member of the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
, studying under the guidance of such notable artists as Robert Beverly Hale
Robert Beverly Hale
Robert Beverly Hale was an artist, curator of American paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and instructor of artistic anatomy at the Art Students League of New York and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art...
and Frank Mason
Frank Mason
Frank Herbert Mason was an American painter and teacher.Mason was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the Music and Arts High School in New York until he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Art Students League of New York with Frank DuMond...
. Then, in 1969, Long preempted the draft by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served just over two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Marine Corps Combat Officer; during his last tour he served as Commander of the Combat Art Team, and much of his work from that period is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
of Washington, D.C.
Upon leaving Vietnam, Long traveled to Florence, Italy, to apprentice himself to internationally-renowned Maestro Pietro Annigoni
Pietro Annigoni
Pietro Annigoni was an Italian portrait and fresco painter, who became world famous after painting Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.-Life:Born in Milan in 1910, Annigoni was a painter who was influenced by the Italian Renaissance....
. Long committed himself to Annigoni for almost eight years. His apprenticeship culminated in 1976, when he was awarded the prestigious Leonardo da Vinci International Art Award
Leonardo da Vinci International Art Award
The Leonardo da Vinci Award was established in 1975 by the Rotary Club of Florence as an annual international prize named after Leonardo da Vinci, to be presented to young people involved in the study of the sciences, technology, literature and the arts...
.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ben Long and some of his students painted wet plaster frescoes on the walls of the two historic Ashe County, North Carolina
Ashe County, North Carolina
- History :Historical evidence shows that Ashe county was inhabited by Native Americans, which included the Cherokee, Creek, and Shawnee tribes. Pieces of broken pottery, arrowheads, and other Native American artifacts have been found, indicating their presence...
churches that form Holy Communion Episcopal Parish
Holy Communion Episcopal Parish, Ashe County
Holy Communion Episcopal Parish, located in Ashe County, North Carolina, is a small parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina. The parish consists of two small historic Carpenter Gothic churches that are both decorated with frescoes done by internationally renowned painter Ben Long...
.
In 1984, Long moved to France where, for the next 14 years, he split time between Paris and the Gard region of Provence. By the time of the move, Long had completed several frescoes in Italy - including a joint fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
with Annigoni and the only work by a non-Italian at the Abbey of Montecassino. These works set the stage for several major fresco projects in the U.S. (13 to this day) including a dome and the largest secular fresco in the United States.
There have been in depth documentaries produced about two of his frescoes, these include Chapel of the Prodigal (completed with James Daniel, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner) and Shadow into light, both of which were produced by A New Light Productions, Inc. The videos depict the painting of Return of the Prodigal in Montreat, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Suffer the Little Children in Crossnore, NC respectively.
In addition to his prolific fresco work, Long has had works in the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
as well as the Royal Portrait Society (London, UK). He has exhibited in Florence, London, Paris, Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and is represented in major collections throughout Europe and the Americas. He has lived and worked in Europe for over thirty years and now divides his time between Europe and the United States.
In 2001, Long was awarded the coveted Arthur Ross Award for Excellence in the Classical Tradition (Classical America, New York, New York) by Philippe de Montebello
Philippe de Montebello
Philippe de Montebello served from 1977 to 2008 as the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. On his retirement, he was both the longest-serving director in the institution's history, and the longest-serving director of any major art museum in the world...
(current and longest-serving Curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Mr. de Montebello has referred to Ben Long as one of the greatest draftsmen of the 20th Century.
In 2002, Ben Long received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2005, the Art Renewal Center
Art Renewal Center
The Art Renewal Center is an organization led by New Jersey millionaire, businessman, and art collector Fred Ross dedicated to the promotion of what it terms classical realism in art, as opposed to the Modernist developments of the twentieth century...
added Ben Long to its Trademarked list of "Living Masters". Reynolds Price memorialized the pair's friendship by publishing a poem entitled "Ben Long's Drawing of Me".
Selected Collections
- The Fremantle Collection, Florence, Italy
- The Josefowitz Collection, Lausanne, Switzerland
- The Getty Collection, San Francisco, California
- The Christie Miller Collection, London, England
- The Thane of Cawdor Collection, Scotland
- The Annigoni Collection, Florence, Italy
- The Sullivan Collection: Paris, France; Miami, Florida; New York, New York
- The Stillman Collection, Armenia, New York
- The Dalton Collection, Charlotte, North Carolina
- The Governor's Mansion Portrait Collection, Raleigh, North Carolina
- The McCollHugh McCollHugh L. McColl Jr. is a fourth-generation banker and the former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America. McColl was a driving force behind consolidating a series of progressively larger, mostly Southern banks, thrifts and financial institutions into a super-regional banking force, "the first...
Collection, Charlotte, North Carolina - Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- The Wells Collection, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Bank of America Corporate Collection, Charlotte, North Carolina
- The Mint Museum of Art Collection, Charlotte, North Carolina
- United States Marine Corps Historical Museum, Washington, District of Columbia
Selected Portrait Commissions
- Gov. Jim Hunt of N.C. (Governor’s Mansion Official Portrait)
- Gordon Getty and sons
- Hugh McCollHugh McCollHugh L. McColl Jr. is a fourth-generation banker and the former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America. McColl was a driving force behind consolidating a series of progressively larger, mostly Southern banks, thrifts and financial institutions into a super-regional banking force, "the first...
(Former President & CEO of Bank of America) - Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Spangler (Portrait for the Harvard Business School Spangler Student Center)
- Musician Boz Scaggs and wife
- Philanthropist Chauncey Stillman
- Author and Poet Reynolds Price
- Author Danielle Steele and family
Selected Fresco Sites
- Basilica of the Montecassino Abbey, Chapel of St. John the Baptist, Montecassino, Italy
- Buriano, Station of the Cross, Florence, Italy
- Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio (w/ Annigoni), Ponte Buggionese, Italy
- Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi, Monte Catini Terme, Italy
- Self-Portrait Fresco, Private Collection, Paris, France
- Wethersfield Estate (Collaboration with Maestro Pietro Annigoni), Armenia, New York
- Bank of America Corporate Center (largest secular fresco in U.S.), Charlotte, North Carolina
- TransAmerica Dome, Charlotte, North Carolina (w/ James Daniel-www.sjdart.net, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner).
- City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium, Morganton, North Carolina (w/ James Daniel- www.sjdart.net, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner).
- First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, North Carolina (w/ James Daniel- www.sjdart.net, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner).
- Montreat Chapel of the Prodigal, Montreat, North Carolina (w/ James Daniel- www.sjdart.net, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner).
- Statesville Civic Center, Statesville, North Carolina (w/ James Daniel- www.sjdart.net, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner).
- Law Enforcement Center, Charlotte, North Carolina (w/ James Daniel- www.sjdart.net, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner).
- St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Wilkesboro, North Carolina (w/ James Daniel- www.sjdart.net, Roger Nelson, and Charles Kapsner).