“The Tammany Tiger Loose – What Are You Going To Do About It?” one of the most powerful political cartoons of all time, appeared in “Harper’s Weekly” on the eve of the elections of 1871. As a corpulent Tweed and a throng look on, Tammany Hall’s tiger has rampaged through the civic arena and now, teeth bared, claws the downed figure of Columbia, representing New York’s innocent citizenry.

NEW YORK CITY – On view through January 18, Forum Gallery is presenting the exhibition “Alan Feltus: New Paintings.” Through the use of original, creative juxtapositions and a rare quietude in his paintings, Alan Feltus makes the figure the primary focus of his work. Fifteen new paintings will be included, and the exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated color catalog.

Born in 1973, in Washington, D.C., Feltus now lives in Assisi, Italy, providing him with direct access to the Renaissance works of Giotto, Piero della Francesca, and Paolo Uccello. As a result, Old Masters assume a pivotal role in his work as both inspiration and muse, replacing traditional life models. Feltus studies these artists’ masterworks, blending their observations of the past with his own ideas on contemporary relationships.

Depicting relationships is at the heart of Feltus’ imagery. Whether portraying husbands and wives, siblings, lovers or friends, he communicates feelings of sadness, dismay and loneliness by isolating figures and casting them in his enigmatic drama.

Feltus has had solo gallery exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as well as Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans and Rome. His work has been included in exhibitions at the American Academy in Rome (New York and Rome), The Joseph H. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington, D.C.), The National Academy Museum (New York), and the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C.

Forum Gallery, 745 Fifth Avenue, is open 10 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. For information, 212-355-4545.