About this lot
Description
§ Patrick Procktor RA (British 1936-2003)
Mo - Ecce Homo
signed 'Patrick Procktor' (lower right); titled and dated 78 to the reverse
oil on canvas
24.5 x 17cm
Footnote:
Executed in 1978, the present lot depicts Mo McDermott, a long-term friend, model, and assistant to David Hockney. In addition to his association with Hockney, McDermott is also credited with introducing Celia Birtwell to Ossie Clark. Together with Clark, Birtwell and Hockney, McDermott became the centre of what was described as the “Northern Invasion” of the Swinging London.
The subtitle of Procktor’s painting, Ecce Homo, from the Latin ‘behold the man’, traditionally refers to images depicting the suffering of Christ and recalls the mocking words of Pontius Pilate before condemning Jesus to crucifixion. A popular theme in Baroque art, Procktor’s 1978 portrait offers a modern, secular rendering of the theme. Whilst McDermott is not conceived as a Christ-like figure, the human skull placed in the foreground functions as a memento mori to remind the viewer of man’s mortality.
Condition report:
The surface a little dirty and with some small brown accretions. The left hand edge of the canvas shows a small dent and resulting paint loss. There are some fine cracks to the paint layer located on the sitter's chin, shoulder and a longer crack (approx 6cm) on the sitter's left arm. Would benefit from a light clean, otherwise good.
Back to lot listings