In Renaissance tradition, when a painting was completed, the artist and the commissioner of the painting would gather with all of their patrons, friends, etc. to witness the unveiling of the painting. This was called a "vernissage" (French for "varnishing") because guests would often work together to apply the last coat of varnish to the painting, and when the artist would sign the painting.
Sam Konswa, owner of Queen Anne Real Estate, has dreamed of having a full-sized portrait of his family for many years.
Mary Veronica Sweeney (MV) was just the artist to do so. Sweeney has been living and working in Seattle for the past few years as an artist, while also managing an art teaching position in New York.
For her Masters degree, Sweeney attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Pennsylvania, established by Thomas Jefferson. The school focuses on intensive training in academic painting, something Sweeney has taught in her classes, as well as utilizing in her portraits.
Sweeney doesn't keep count of all of the portraits she has painted through the years, but "it must be over 100 by now. The 'big name' person I can remember doing was Harry Connick Jr., for his biography," Sweeney said. Connick Jr. is an American actor, singer, composer and pianist.
Sweeney moved to Seattle to be closer to her family, and began working with wineries in Eastern Washington by painting their wine labels. She and Konswa met because her nieces attend the same school as the Konswa girls.
"We hit it off because we're both from New York," Sweeney said. "We were both missing the Big City. This [unveiling] is our way of bringing a taste of the east coast and Europe to Seattle."
Konswa told Sweeney about his desire for a family portrait, and asked her to do it. Finally completed, the portrait has taken more than a year to finish.
"The [Konswa] family first 'sat' for the painting one year and nine months ago, and the only one I had a hard time getting to stay still was Reesey," Sweeney laughs. Reesey, short for Clarice, is the name of the Konswa's grey poodle, present in the family portrait.
Before its completion, Sweeney had mentioned to Konswa the renaissance tradition of a "vernissage."
"I told Sam about it, and his eyes lit up and he goes, 'Well, let's bring it back! Let's revive the tradition!' I think it's a great way to liven the spirits of people in the Queen Anne community in these times," Sweeney said.[[In-content Ad]]
