Beauford's Trustees

In January 1976, a French judge created a "trusteeship" to handle Beauford's affairs. Beauford had been admitted to Saint-Anne's, a psychiatric institution, several months before. He eventually died there.

The judge appointed seven of Beauford's closest friends as members of the panel of trustees: James Baldwin, Solange du Closel, Burt Reinfrank, Bernard Hassell, Darthea Speyer, Ahmed Bioud, and James LeGros.

Beauford created portraits of at least six of the seven trustees prior to entering Sainte-Anne's. (I have never seen or heard of a portrait of James LeGros.) I honor them on Beauford's behalf in this blog posting by presenting their portraits below.

James Baldwin
1963 Pastel on paper
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute

Mme du Closel No. 4
1972 Pastel on paper
G. R. N'Namdi Gallery

Burton Reinfrank
1968 Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of Burton Reinfrank

Bernard Hassell
ca. 1971 Oil on canvas
Private collection

Darthea
1965 Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of Galerie Darthea Speyer

Ahmed Bioud
1964 Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York , NY