Artists - Part 45

Don Bachardy

In 1953, 18-year old Don Bachardy (at right), met 48-year old Christopher Isherwood (at left) at a gay beach in Santa Monica, California, and it changed their lives.  Bachardy moved in with Isherwood and began a relationship that lasted until Isherwood's death 33 years later.

Christopher Isherwood was already an internationally known author.  Among other works, he had written the autobiographical novel Goodbye to Berlin which became the basis for the musical Cabaret.  Isherwood and Bachardy lived as an out gay couple at a time (the 1950s and 60s) when being out was difficult, even in California.

Isherwood recognized Bachardy's artistic talent and paid for him to attend art school.  Bachardy specialized in portraits.  Above, Bachardy paints a portrait of Isherwood many years later.

Bachardy created more than 10,000 portraits.  His talent became recognized, and his work can be found in major museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian, and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

It also didn't hurt that Isherwood, being a literary celebrity, helped to connect Bachardy to art patrons.  Above is his portrait of gay poet Allen Ginsberg, whom we have previously seen.  Though it's not a nude portrait, it's interesting that Ginsberg's belt is undone.

But, in addition to the thousands of conventional portraits, Bachardy also drew and painted a large number of male nudes.  I have included a sample; there are many more.  Above, Timothy Robinson, 1984.

Jim Wiley, 1986.

Jay Wheeler, 1992.

Scott O'Hara, 1990.

Shahin, 2005.

Dan Greischer, 1984.  Greischer was a close friend of Bachardy and Isherwood, and during the final months of Isherwood's life as he battled prostate cancer, Greischer lived with the couple and helped care for Isherwood.

Dan Greischer and Keith Coleman in 1984.

After Isherwood's death in 1986, Bachardy continued to paint, and he still does at age 89.  Judging by this painting of Doug Zimmerman, 2019, his interest in the male nude is undiminished.