Bennett Donates Ellington Painting to Smithsonian

  I  

Tony Bennett will present his watercolor painting of Duke Ellington to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., on April 29. This date was chosen as it is the 110th anniversary of Ellington’s birth and the end of Jazz Appreciation Month.

The painting depicts Ellington with a bouquet of pink roses in the background. Bennett, who considered Ellington a mentor, chose this motif to celebrate Ellington’s habit of sending the singer a dozen pink roses whenever Ellington composed a new song.

Bennett has been painting all his life and this donation marks the third painting he has donated to the Smithsonian.

More info: si.edu



  • Gordon_Goodwin_2020.jpg

    Goodwin was one of the most acclaimed, successful and influential jazz musicians of his generation.

  • Flea_-_Photo_2_by_Clara_Balzary_copy.jpg

    Flea has returned to his first instrument — the trumpet — and assembled a dream band of jazz musicians to record a new album.

  • MAC1199_Oscar_Peterson_by_Al_Gilbert_CM_FRPS_300dpi_RGB_PR1_copy.jpeg

    “It’s a pleasure and an honor to interpret the music of Oscar Peterson in his native city,” said Jim Doxas in regard to celebrating the Canadian legend. “He traveled the world, but never forgot Montreal.”

  • Best_of_Art_copy.jpg
  • Seth_McFarlane_by_Pamela_Littky_copy.jpg

    Seth MacFarlane takes a turn from his television and film career to sing arrangements made for Frank Sinatra, but never recorded.


On Sale Now
January 2026
Andrew Cyrille
Look Inside
Subscribe
Print | Digital | iPad