Excerpt
The Ambassadors is a signature double portrait combined with meticulous still life painting and masterful symbolic referencing that creates many levels of meaning. It relates specifically to a tumultuous period in history and more generally to how we know our world and the different ways that we can paint our “bigger picture”. This work is in the tradition of coupling learned men with the tools of their trade – scientific instruments and academic/religious books. The portrait of two childhood friends with different life paths – Jean de Dinteville, a landowner and French Ambassador to England in 1533, and his friend, George de Selve, the Bishop of Lavaur – also contains overtones of early 16th century politics (especially Anglo-French relations), the conflict between secular and religious authorities, and medieval-reformation theology. In addition, a lute with a broken string (discord) and a Lutheran hymn book suggests strife between scholars and clergy and a plea for Christian harmony.
- ©ERS 2014
