Father, Son & Holy %^&*
Saw Steve Colbert's portrait in the National Portrait Gallery today, right outside the collection of Presidential Portraits.
The little plaque to the left explains that Mr. Colbert contacted the Smithsonian about donating a portrait, since he is a national treasure, and was informed that this was not the sort of donation they accepted, but to show they were in on the joke (the plaque used the words "in on the joke") they agreed to exhibit his portrait for a limited time, outside the president's gallery, and we were to enjoy the painting while we used the water fountains over which it hangs. The plaque actually instructs this, the part about enjoying it while using the fountain.
What this fails to convey:
- The portrait is a masterpiece of insane ego, with three views of Colbert in it, the hindmost a portrait within a portrait, and Colbert is wearing his most pompous silly anchorman expressions, one brow raised. You had to laugh a little, especially since it gently spoofs the dead serious presidential portraits you are about to see. Painting is by Aiello, btw, and it is mostly brown and blue.
- It is not really hung over two public drinking fountains. Okay, technically it is, but you only notice the painting if you stop on your way to the real gallery, wheel right, and face the square archway that prefaces the public toilets, so the portrait is neatly framed by an arch bearing the international symbols for women's, men's and handicapped toilets. The Colbert self-trinity is framed by a trinity. It means something, I'm sure.
The little plaque to the left explains that Mr. Colbert contacted the Smithsonian about donating a portrait, since he is a national treasure, and was informed that this was not the sort of donation they accepted, but to show they were in on the joke (the plaque used the words "in on the joke") they agreed to exhibit his portrait for a limited time, outside the president's gallery, and we were to enjoy the painting while we used the water fountains over which it hangs. The plaque actually instructs this, the part about enjoying it while using the fountain.
What this fails to convey:
- The portrait is a masterpiece of insane ego, with three views of Colbert in it, the hindmost a portrait within a portrait, and Colbert is wearing his most pompous silly anchorman expressions, one brow raised. You had to laugh a little, especially since it gently spoofs the dead serious presidential portraits you are about to see. Painting is by Aiello, btw, and it is mostly brown and blue.
- It is not really hung over two public drinking fountains. Okay, technically it is, but you only notice the painting if you stop on your way to the real gallery, wheel right, and face the square archway that prefaces the public toilets, so the portrait is neatly framed by an arch bearing the international symbols for women's, men's and handicapped toilets. The Colbert self-trinity is framed by a trinity. It means something, I'm sure.