Ben Abril, Impressionist Portrait Painting of Nixon’s Poodle Vicky, 1960s

A very fetching untitled 1960s oil on canvas Impressionist portrait painting of what we believe might be former President Richard Nixon’s French poodle, Vicky, by important mid-century Los Angeles artist Ben Abril.

Softly done depiction of the poised and pretty pooch, with her cocked head and inquisitive gaze capturing the personality and intelligence that are hallmarks of the breed. Her sun-kissed greyish-white coat stands out nicely against the dark green grass and navy blue background. Signed “Abril” at bottom left.

Leading us to believe that this might be a portrait of Nixon’s cherished companion: Vicky was the most famous French poodle in America at the time that this was painted; Vicky sported a blue collar quite similar to the one pictured while in the White House; Nixon was an admirer of Abril’s work—which included commissions by the United States Navy—and in 1972 acquired one of his Northern California seascapes for his personal collection; and extensive research uncovered no other paintings by Abril that featured a similar subject matter, with his oeuvre being almost exclusively landscape and architectural in nature.

Vicky was one of four frequently photographed dogs in Nixon’s family during his two decades in political office, with the other members of the pack being Irish setter King Timahoe, Yorkshire terrier Pasha, and cocker spaniel Checkers, famously name-checked in the 1952 speech that would shape the course of American history.

In original custom silver-leafed wood frame with complementary navy blue painted trim and ecru linen mat.

Ben Abril (b. 1923–1995) was a very well regarded artist in his time who had a wonderfully varied career, and his works remain quite collectible today. From the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s detailed biography: “Benjamin Abril’s reputation is based on his picturesque scenes of old Los Angeles and the California countryside. After serving in the air force during World War II, Abril studied briefly at the Glendale School of Allied Arts with Arthur Beaumont (1890-1973). He then worked on the night shift at the post office in order to paint during the day. During these years he painted the circus and became interested in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles. He returned to school in the late 1940s to study art at Glendale College and landscape painting at the Art Center School of Design with Trude Hanscom (born 1898). He studied architectural rendering at Chouinard Art Institute and took watercolor classes at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (Otis Art Institute). Abril also studied privately with landscape painter Orrin A. White and painted with members of the California Water Color Society. The County of Los Angeles hired him in 1955 as a cartographer and architectural draftsman, a position he held for some twenty years. He also worked for architectural firms and briefly as a scenic designer for Desi-Lu Productions. In 1962 Cowie Galleries began to represent Abril, and from then on his reputation grew; two years later actor Vincent Price bought out his entire studio. Around this time he began to depict the Victorian mansions in the Bunker Hill area of downtown Los Angeles. The fame of these paintings led to a commission from the United States Navy to paint a series on Japan and later one of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam for their collection. In 1972 President Nixon acquired one of his Northern California seascapes.”

Dimensions
Height: 21.63 in.
Width: 17.75 in.
Depth: 2 in.
Sight is H 15.5 in. x W 11.63 in.
Condition good
Wear consistent with age and use. Art: great vintage condition. Frame: very good vintage condition, with some mostly tiny and superficial marks and nicks to silver finish, and a few very faint signs of age on linen mat.