This #MuseumMonday, we’re shining a spotlight on the artistic talents of Charles Deering. While many know Deering as a patron of the arts and an avid collector, few realize that he was also a skilled painter. What began as a leisurely pastime evolved into a serious pursuit in 1893 when Deering honed his skills as a portrait artist in Paris, working from the studio of renowned painter Anders Zorn. Deering’s talent earned admiration from leading artists of his time, including his friend John Singer Sargent, who believed Deering could have a distinguished career as a portrait painter and encouraged him to pursue it. Yet, Deering remained his own harshest critic and destroyed most of his canvases. The few works that survived were portraits of family members and close friends, preserved for their personal significance. Among these rare works are the portraits featured in this post: General Whipple (Marion Deering’s father) and Clara Cummings Hamilton (mother of James and Abby Deering). Wh...