Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Financier Darla Moore's name is on the USC School of Business--now, her likeness is immortalized inside as well.
Friday, the school unveiled a new 14-by-8 foot oil painting of Moore that will be displayed at the school. It was created by London-based artist Ralph Heimans. Heismans is best known for painting the portrait of Queen Elizabeth for the monarch's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
The portrait of Moore shows her standing on the stairs of the school as it was under construction. Moore can be seen holding a hard hat.
Heismans met Moore in 2013, and looked at 3D models of the building before deciding where to position Moore for the image. Her initial sitting for the portrait was in 2014.
The school opened in August of that year.
It's the first time Heimans has created a painting of a prominent American figure.
"Its dynamic composition reflects the energy and momentum of Darla as a business leader and as an individual, whilst the strong lines and powerful perspective suggest the limitless possibilities that the school promises to create," Heimans said in a statement. "The portrait is both inspirational and aspirational – ultimately it celebrates the philanthropic tradition that she is continuing through the creation of the school as a place of learning, ideas and future success for her home state of South Carolina."
Moore is a 1975 graduate of USC, and has made two gifts totaling $70 million to the university's business school She also gave $5 million to help establish the Ronald E. McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research.
Heimans' painting of Moore was commissioned and gifted by the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
