Dr. Geno J. Merli, oil on linen, 42 x 32"Last May, artist Joseph Daily unveiled an exquisite new portrait of Dr. Geno J. Merli commissioned for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Daily portrays the noted doctor and professor standing in his office, surrounded by an array of personal objects that represent Merli’s commitment to family, faith and a profession in service to others. This is the eighth portrait Daily has completed for Jefferson; each one being a special experience for him with a subject he was thankful to get to know. Inspired by each of his subjects, Daily was especially impressed by Merli’s easygoing nature and his effort to ensure that the entire portrait process flowed smoothly. “His entire demeanor exemplified patient care as well as anyone I’ve ever met,” Daily says, and he felt honored to paint his portrait for Jefferson.
Prior to their first sitting, Daily asked Merli to consider whether he would like any significant personal or professional items included in the composition. Upon arrival, Merli had the items that appear in the portrait arranged carefully in his office. Daily remarks, “I adjusted them a little in person and in Photoshop, but for the most part all I had to do was show up. On the left are various professional awards, on the right are portraits of his wife, father and family, and behind him is a picture of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an American flag that flew in Afghanistan. Dr. Merli’s hand is resting next to a book that he co-wrote, which is placed on top of a Bible.”
The portraits for Jefferson are particularly dear to Daily because of the hospital’s rich history with portraiture. One of his portraits hangs on the same wall with a painting by one of his childhood painting heroes Nelson Shanks, and another resides on a wall with a Thomas Sully and other remarkable works dating back to the late 1700s.
Born in Philadelphia to two freelance illustrators, Daily’s early interest was in comics and cartoons until 10th grade, when a beloved art teacher, Mrs. Jewett, opened the door for him to representational drawing. He went on to study painting and even sold his first portrait while in college. Yet after graduating, he was unable to sustain full-time commission work and soon resorted to a job painting houses to stay afloat. With little spare time and money, he painted a full-length portrait of his then-fiancée’s father. Several months later, the painting won both Best of Show and People’s Choice Award at the Portrait Society’s 2005 International Portrait Competition. In addition to his success at the competition, a chance meeting with that year’s keynote speaker, Minnie Churchill, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter-in-law and director of the Churchill Heritage, pushed his career forward to success. Over the next five years, he completed more than 80 commissioned portraits in both the U.S. and the U.K. As Daily succinctly puts it, “It was a wild ride.” —
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