Artist and Portrait Painter Ralph Wolfe Cowan

Meet Ralph
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at
Thompson and Frank Gallery in West Palm Beach

Ralph Cowan and manager Steve Mohler were in Monaco for the Super Yacht Show. While there, we met with our friend His Serene Highness Prince Albert II. Ralph and Prince Albert II pose in front of Cowan's 1956 portrait of HSH Princess Grace. Cowan's friendship with Prince Albert started in 1981 when Cowan was painting the famous family portrait while living in the palace. Albert, Caroline and Stephanie would often stop by to chat with Ralph and see the progression of the painting.

Below, we have included a few special images of our trip. I hope you'll get a glimpse of Ralph Cowan the artist and Ralph Cowan the person. We stayed in a wonderful Villa in Cap Martin overlooking Roguebrune with our friends, and then checked into The Hermitage in the middle of Monte Carlo.

2015
Released! The Painted Face: Artist Ralph Wolfe Cowan by Steve Mohler. Cowan's longtime manager Steve Mohler takes the readers through an intimate journey into Cowan's carreer and his many famous subjects.

May 2013
Ralph Cowan and his manager Steve Mohler took reference photographs of the Ruffin Family for the start of a fabulous family portrait. Ralph and I had a great time at their wonderful Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Yes, Ralph shook it up at the disco party in the pool during the Memorial Day weekend festivities.

March 2013--Liz Taylor Resurfaces

Commissioned originally by Taylor's late husband Michael Todd in 1956. It
resurfaced in the March 2013 issue of Vanity Fair on page 319. It was
originally a circular painting. Somewhere along its 57 year history, she had it
reframed into a rectangular frame. In doing so, it lost the Ralph Cowan signature. Posing on top of the painting is Liz's dog Sugar. Ralph tells the
story as if it happened yesterday.

The Most Current News: April 2013

Ralph Cowan just finished painting the late Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii whose legacy is being honored in Washington, D.C. in May.

Cowan has also been commissioned to paint the former Chief of Surgery for UK
Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II, 48" circular canvas

Ralph Cowan's 1984 painting of His Holiness Pope John Paul II will soon grace
the walls of The Pope John Paul II Center in Krakow, Polland where His Holiness was born and raised. Considered The Great Liberator of Polland, perhaps his greatest miracle was to free the people of Polland from Communist rule . On May 1, 2011, His Holiness was granted the rite of beatification and shortly will be declared a Saint. What a great honor to have created the painting that will express His Holy magnificence forever.

If you would like your family name emblazoned forever with this famous painting, please contact us at (561) 833-1615 or (561) 723-3978.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XI is blessing a smaller reproduction of Cowan's portrait of Pope John Paul II with Knights of Malta, Joseph and Ann Brennan.

1956 and HSH Princess Grace

A young Cowan standing next to his painting of HSH Princess Grace of Monaco in 1956. Although slightly cropped, this image made the New York Times that year. This painting is now known as "The Legendary Portrait of HSH Princess Grace," and is embraced by all of Monaco.

Cowan has a rich history of painting many of our American Icons. Search the internet and you will be amazed at his vast contribution to art in America.

"La Famille Princiere" Monaco

In 1956, H.S.H. Prince Rainier commissioned Ralph Cowan to paint what is now known as the "Legendary Portrait of H.S.H. Princess Grace".

In 1981, Cowan was invited back by H.S.H. Princess Grace to paint this 84" x 48" masterpeice of her entire family which hangs in the Throne Room.Those who have taken the palace tour have seen this great painting. Cowan painted it while living in the palace. Cowan remembers browsing the streets of the old village with Grace. They would always leave from the side entrance of the palace, not to be noticed. Grace loved fresh flowers. Cowan has always loved his friendship with the family.

Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco posing for Ralph Cowan in 1981.

HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco

In 2011, Cowan was notified that the Arts Committee of Monaco chose him to paint the new Priincess of Monaco, Charlene Whittock, now Prince Albert's wife. In late 2012, Cowan was inspired to start this beautiful painting of the Princess. We hope that Monaco will embrace this painting with love and acceptance.