This painting was commissioned by my dear friends, David and Craig, and makes up part of their private art collection. They own three of my paintings. The brief they gave me was to paint a bold, eye-catching abstract to hang in their new apartment. Drawing upon my past experience as a calligrapher, I decided upon a bright, textured background upon which their names were inscribed in copperplate script. The title “Gloria in Excelsis David” (Latin – “Glory to David in the Highest") alludes not only to David’s Irish Catholic heritage ("Gloria in Excelsis Deo" from the Mass), but also to the potentially fatal condition afflicting him when this picture was painted in the 1990s. We feared he might be taken from us at that time. Dreadfully ill though he was, David never lost his wonderful sense of humor; hence the gallows-humor reference to his heavenly “in the highest” situation. David is now responding well to new medication and is presently in excellent health.
“Gloria in Excelsis David” is painted in oils on canvas and is 120cm x 90cm (4ft x 3ft).
My challenge to you is to find the names of “David” and “Craig” within the composition of the painting. Can you see their names?It may be necessary to scroll over --> to see the entire image.
“Gloria in Excelsis David”
“Gloria in Excelsis David” - Detail
And this is my portrait of David, himself. It is painted in oils on canvas and is 61cm x 51cm (24in x 20in).
It may be necessary to scroll over --> to see the entire image.
“David”
