Jonathan Ching

SIGNED AND DATED 2011 LOWER RIGHT

The painting is in good condition, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. Minor indications of wear and handling around the edges, corners and margins are evident but are unobtrusive. The paint layers are well-preserved and are in stable condition. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no indication of retouching. Unframed, on stretcher.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Jonathan Ching lassoes a portion of the cowboy's rugged and mythic life as immortalized by the Marlboro Man. Titled after an Irish proverb, Grace Is Found Between Saddle and the Ground depicts a weathered leather saddle, the only evidence of a phantom rider and an equally phantom horse, floating through the American West's big sky and billowing fields. Screwed to the bottom of the canvas, a rattlesnake made from a sheet of hammered copper slithers through the underbrush.

Muscular strokes of ominous cerulean and black contrast with the delicate brushwork of the saddle, which exhibits the highest level of detail thus far from Ching. Straps twist, dangle, and end in stirrups; floral curlicues blossom up and down the worn leather seat, shiny from years of use in the great outdoors. Writhing flower patterns similar to those on the saddle race over the rattlesnake's sinuous back.

Beyond, fine blades of grass create a melancholy and expansive landscape, natural habitat of the iconic cowboy, America's symbol of individualism, self-reliance, and virility. Ching leaves the absence of man and beast for viewers to interpret; it is not far-fetched to imagine the fading of a legend. As the Marlboro Man rides off into the proverbial sunset, the lyrics of Johnny Cash echo through the grasslands: "Make me as big and open as the plains. As honest as the horse between my knees. Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains. Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze."