Portrait of the Artist, Gerard Bianco — A Combined Effort by Artists, Richard Whitney and Gerard Bianco

Welcome! I’d like to tell you a little story behind the rather unusual portrait pictured above.

Many years ago, I had the privilege of sitting for a painting demonstration by the celebrated portrait artist Richard Whitney. The event was sponsored by the Metropolitan Portrait Society and held at the historic Salmagundi Club in New York City.

Because it was a live demonstration, Richard painted only what time allowed—my head and a suggestion of a collar. And while I was honored to be the model, I was left with a portrait that felt… unfinished. It lingered in that state for years.

Eventually, I decided to resolve it myself.

At first, I sketched in a traditional suit and tie. Respectable, certainly—but uninspired. Then I thought, why not have a little fun? Why not step beyond the ordinary and paint myself in costume? The question became: which costume?

The answer arrived unexpectedly.

Just last week, while visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I came upon a portrait dated 1790 by the French painter Antoine-Jean Gros. The sitter’s name stopped me in my tracks: François Gérard—also an artist. 

“Ah-ha!” I thought. “Synchronicity strikes again.” The elegance, the regality, the quiet theatricality of that 18th-century attire was irresistible. I knew immediately that this was the costume my unfinished portrait had been waiting for.

So, I finished the portrait, adding my new attire and background.

What began as a simple demonstration piece evolved into a true collaboration across time: Richard Whitney’s masterful likeness, completed and reimagined by my own hand. The painting now carries both our signatures—Whitney and Bianco.

And really, that’s not unusual when you look at art history. For centuries, artists regularly collaborated on a single canvas. A portrait painter might invite a specialist to add an exquisite still life. Drapery, armor, elaborate backgrounds—these passages were often entrusted to studio artists whose particular skill brought richness to the whole. The great European studios worked this way all the time.

So, in many ways, this portrait simply continues that tradition—one artist establishing the likeness, another extending the vision.

If you’d enjoy seeing yourself rendered in a regal and elegant French costume—or in any attire that tells your story—I’d love to chat. Let’s create something timeless together.

To see more of my portraits and paintings, please visit gerardbianco.com.

Thank you very much for reading my story!