VANCE

WILLIAM VANCE MARSHAL BLUEBERRY On Washington's orders (T.1), Alpen Publishers 1991 Original illustration used on back cover. Signed. Acrylic on canvas 50 × 73 cm (19.69 × 28.74 in.) Here again, we have a magnificent portrait of Marshall Blueberry in an attitude reminiscent of the great tradition of classical portraiture, or of the most famous western illustrators and painters such as Charles Schreyvogel or Frank Tenney Johnson. The influence of Giraud is also apparent, with Vance using the chromatic effects so successful in the Chihuahua Pearl period, notably on the hero's face and in the rendering of the frock coat. All this is achieved with a particularly masterful finish by the Belgian artist, who, thanks to his beginnings in advertising where neither Photoshop nor Midjourney existed, is well-versed in reproducing any material effect in acrylic. The stylistic hallmark of the portrait is the effect of fog at the hero's feet. William Vance is unbeatable at this kind of "stratospheric" effect, which he uses in many of his illustrations and plates.