Caput Mortuum

Caput Mortuum
Oil on gessoed board
55x80mm

$100
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This painting was done by candlelight. Or rather, the subject was lit by candlelight, which gave a lovely warm glow to the prominent background and cast an interesting blueish shadow under the match. The title, "Caput Mortuum", which translates literally as "death's head" is the name of an artist's pigment. A kind of dark earthy violet that I'm particularly fond of using. I used a tiny touch mixed with white for the ashy colour on the dead match head. I am happy with this particular painting. The match may be dead, but it is being observed by the light of the flame it ignited. I'm sure there must be something deeply spiritual or cosmic about this concept..... Or something...