2 minutes 13 seconds
Hugh Jackman, by Vincent Fantauzzo, 2020. This portrait of actor, singer and dancer Hugh Jackman is a work of oil on canvas and stands 167 cm tall and 128 cm wide. It is an unframed canvas protruding 5 cm off the wall.
Painted in black and white, the portrait is an immensely detailed photorealistic painting. Against a bright cream-white background, a relaxed smiling Jackman leans to the right of the frame, his left hand wrapped around the side of his neck, supporting his head. His gaze is fixed brightly on the viewer. His face occupies the top-right quarter of the frame while his shoulders and chest, in a dark grey t-shirt, occupy the bottom half, the white background filling the top-left.
Jackman’s kind eyes show a detailed reflection of his surroundings, his gaze warmly addressing a dark figure reflected in his irises. Deep creases and crows’ feet fan out from his eyes, above which are thick dark eyebrows, with grooved frown-lines interrupting his otherwise smooth forehead. His soft dark hair appears messily parted out of frame with just his hairline and a handful of individual wayward hairs in view. The edges of his hair and t-shirt and Jackman’s protruding ears are painted with less detail than the rest of his sharply focused face, giving the impression of a camera lens’ blur.
His nose is prominent and descends into a dense salt and pepper stubble moustache which continues seamlessly into a beard. His facial hair extends up to his ears and down his rounded chin to his neck and is painted in exceptional detail, with each individual black white and grey follicle clearly visible. Amongst the facial hair his mouth is closed and upturned in a gentle smile. Half of his neck is obscured in shadow by his left wrist which hovers just below his chin as he leans into his palm.
Audio description written and voiced by Kate Matthews
Hugh Jackman AC (b. 1968) is the ultimate triple threat – actor, singer and dancer. Best known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men movies, Jackman grew up in Sydney and turned down a role in Neighbours to focus on honing his skills at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Soon after graduating in 1994 he scored a role in the ABC television drama, Correlli, playing opposite Deborra-Lee Furness, who he married the following year. He won a Tony Award for his performance as Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz (2003–2004), a Golden Globe for his role as Jean Valjean in the film Les Misérables (2012) and a Grammy for The Greatest Showman (2017).
Vincent Fantauzzo had organised to meet Jackman to take photos in preparation for this portrait, when Covid-19 hit and the actor flew back to New York. Instead, the portrait was based on an image by Furness and on Zoom chats between Jackman and Fantauzzo. 'There's a look in Hugh's eyes, it’s a moment in a conversation with someone he knows and trusts. It's not a GQ photo shoot. There's a love and intimacy, a side of Hugh that’s not the showman, it’s not Wolverine. I want people to walk in, see the portrait of Hugh and feel a real connection.'
Commissioned with funds provided by the Sid and Fiona Myer Family Foundation and Paul Dainty AM and Donna Dainty 2020
© Vincent Fantauzzo
The Sid and Fiona Myer Family Foundation (9 portraits supported)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Malcolm McCusker talks with artist Vincent Fantauzzo about starting out as a lawyer and becoming Governor of Western Australia.
Artist Vincent Fantauzzo on dyslexia, connection and virtual sittings with Hugh Jackman.
