A Fort Worth artist who died Tuesday after a stroke leaves behind a significant legacy around the city.
Ceiling murals painted by Scott Gentling and his twin brother, Stuart Gentling, who died five years ago, depict a sunset, grapevines and birds above Bass Hall.
"He became a jewel of the Fort Worth cultural scene," said Michael Auping, the chief curator at the Modern Museum of Fort Worth.
Scott Gentling's well-known watercolor portrait of renowned anthropologist Jane Goodall is back on display at the Modern in the wake of his death.
"In terms of American realism, he probably ranks among some of the best," Auping said.
The Gentlings' self-published their book "Of Birds and Texas" in 1986. Scott Gentling's most recently well-known work of art is the official portrait of then Gov. George W. Bush, which hangs in the state capitol in Austin.
But while he and his brother were never big names on the national art scene, they will continue to be in North Texas.
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"Twenty-five, 35 years ago, Scott Gentling was really the artist in Fort Worth, so, it's a passing of a certain generation of artist," Auping said. "You hate to see it happen -- obviously, it's inevitable -- but clearly, Fort Worth has lost one of its unique artists."
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in the Crestline neighborhood, where the Gentlings studio is located.
