Three Generations, 2008
oil on belgian linen
46 x 72 in
(116.84h x 182.88w cm)
Private Commission
“Several years ago, my friend Paul Tudor Jones encouraged me to visit his farm north of Manhattan, New York. He thought this big whitetail might inspire me to paint them. I grew up hunting whitetail, but when he pulled out a shed antler that looked like a massive windswept piece of sagebrush, he had me hooked. I should have known. Everything Paul does is big. It’s a testament to the management practices at Quaker Valley Farms. Paul invests extensively in all his conservation properties in order to provide the highest quality habitat for indigenous fish and wildlife. His commitment to global conservation is unrivaled.
When I first saw these monster bucks, I knew I had to paint them; to say that they inspired me would be an understatement. These lithe yet massive bucks run with such grace that it would be a crime to paint them any other way. For certain pieces, I try to be cognizant to where and how a collector would view a painting. I knew this would hang in Paul’s Connecticut office, directly across from his desk. After a brutal day slaying the financial markets, I hope he can find repose in this familiar scene.” – John Banovich