Reason not to finish a painting: Death of the sitter

[image_with_animation image_url=”9597″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]
For this unfinished painting, the artist did not die. The sitter did.
[image_with_animation image_url=”9598″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]
In 1945, Elizabeth Shoumatoff was commissioned to paint a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  At noon on April 12, Shaumatoff began her work. That afternoon Roosevelt said, “I have a terrific pain in the back of my head.” He then slumped forward in his chair, unconscious, and was carried into his bedroom. He was diagnosed with a massive cerebral hemorrhage. At 3:35 pm Roosevelt died.
[image_with_animation image_url=”9601″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]
Elizabeth Shoumatoff never finished the portrait, but she later painted a new one, this time with a blue tie instead of red.
[image_with_animation image_url=”9592″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”]
(Source: https://dirkdeklein.net/2017/04/12/the-unfinished-portrait-of-franklin-d-roosevelt/)