CENTRAL PARK LITHO BY TONY BENNETT

I have been sketching and painting all of my life and I have always had the need to do both painting and singing. I was on a plane with the singer Joe Williams once and he said to me about creative pursuits that “It’s not that we want to do it, we HAVE to do it.” And that is how I have felt about art and music my entire life.
Tony Bennett

MUSIC & ART

We’ve known Tony Bennett as a brilliant singer for 75 years, but he’s always had twin loves in both music and art. His work is incredibly well regarded, so much so that his painting Central Park is part of the Smithsonian.

The painting is private, intimate view like you’re standing right beside Tony in his Manhattan apartment, or as he goes by in the art world, Anthony Benedetto.

Tony Bennett began formal training as an art student at the School of Industrial Arts (now known as the School of Art and Design) in Manhattan and continued his studies with private studios and teachers throughout the years. A self-proclaimed “museum freak,” he visits museums and galleries all over the world, especially during his extensive concert tours. As an artist of both worldly and familiar subjects, Tony Bennett has experimented with a wide range of subjects, has studied the intricacies of various styles, and has learned from the great masters. His body of work reflects an awareness of the history of art and the artist’s continuing passion for enjoying and creating that which is universally recognized as beautiful. Common to all his work, be it the oils, watercolors or sketches, is his desire to communicate.

His work as a painter has been featured in several art publications including a cover story in ART AND ANTIQUES, ARTNEWS, INFORMART, THE ARTIST’S MAGAZINE, and INTERNATIONAL ARTIST magazine. He has also participated and exhibited his work as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s lecture series. Among the many owners of original Benedettos around the world are the late Cary Grant, President Bill Clinton, Carol Burnett, Whoopi Goldberg, the late Frank Sinatra, Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Mickey Rooney, Katie Couric and the late Robert Rauschenberg.

Bennett was commissioned to be the official artist of the 2001 Kentucky Derby and created two original watercolors for this historic racing event (“Kickin’ Up Dirt 1”, “Kickin’ Up Dirt 2”).

Seven of Bennett’s paintings have been published as museum-quality limited edition, fine-art original lithographs. The first four of the collection, “South of France,” “Greek Port,” “Sunday in Central Park” and “Monet’s Garden” are sold out and three titles, “Wolf Trap,” “Lovers in Monet’s Gardens,” and “Golden Pavilion,” are currently available.

Most recently, in 2004 Benedetto Arts presented Tony’s first giclée, “Gondola, Venice” and has since produced two additional giclées from his Italian series of paintings, “Chianti” and “Positano.” With the publication of two beautifully-bound books of his paintings, “TONY BENNETT: WHAT MY HEART HAS SEEN,” by Rizzoli International in 1996, and, “TONY BENNETT IN THE STUDIO: A LIFE OF ART AND MUSIC” in 2007 released by Sterling Publications, a lifelong dream has been realized.

About the Painting
Original
Title Central Park
Artist Anthony Benedetto
Date 1998
Location Smithsonian American Art / Museum Luce Foundation Center
Dimensions 36 x 60 in. (91.4 x 152.4 cm)
Copyright © 2000, Benedetto/Bennett

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