R. B. Kitaj, R.A.

Marlborough Fine Art, London, where acquired by the family of the present owner 7th February 1986

London, Marlborough Fine Art, R.B. Kitaj, November - December 1985, cat. no.61, illustrated p.62, with tour to Marlborough Fine Art, New York.

Original canvas. There are a few very minor spots of staining near the right edge above the figure's forearm; otherwise the work appears in excellent original condition. Under UV light there appear to be no signs of retouching. Held in a simple dark wood frame. Please call the department on 0207 293 6424 if you have any questions about the present work.
"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.
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Hamlet (Pretending Madness) is one of a group of works which relate to R. B. Kitaj's highly celebrated and iconic theatre series. In 1985 Kitaj was commissioned to create a permanent safety curtain for London's Old Vic theatre. Speaking of the commission Kitaj recalled:

'I decided upon a Hamlet theme, re-read the play and painted a bunch of Hamlet pictures, one of which Hamlet and his Father's Ghost was painted to the correct proportion. Hockney told me which wonderful old firm to use to paint the picture up to the right scale. Jonathan Miller had just been appointed artistic director and he came to the studio to see my painting. He said he didn't want Hamlet and his bloody father coming down all during some other play like Lady Windermere's Fan or something. He was quite right and we both laughed.  Then I painted the Old Vic to the right proportions.' (The Artist, quoted in Marco Livingston, Kitaj, 1999, p.203)

The Old Vic (1986, Sold, Sotheby's London, 15^th February 2012, £253,250) to which Kitaj is referring portrays the protagonist at different points throughout the drama within the contemporary context of London's South Bank. The present work focuses singularly on Hamlet, and is considerably more theatrical, emphasising his costume in the vibrant colour and movement, the twirling of bustling cloth, the patterning on the tights.