ALLEGORY OF THE BAD GOVERNMENT

Tyrammides 2022 mixed media collage

I usually steer clear of politics. Far too depressing. But, during research for some work that touches on mental health and nature (specifically woodland) and how it can heal and calm the demons in your head, I discovered a book called, ‘Monsters - A Bestiary of the Bizarre’. Through this book, I think via a website called monsterbrains.blogspot.com I came upon a work of art by the Italian artist Ambrogio Lorenzetti called The Allegory of Good and Bad Government and got a little side-tracked. It’s a series of three fresco panels painted between 1338 and 1339 on the walls of Siena's Palazzo Pubblico in a room where nine elected officials would sit and perform executive duties (and judicial ones in secular matters). The paintings have been construed as being "designed to remind the [magistrates] of just how much was at stake as they made their decisions" Ferguson, Niall (2017) The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook

In the panel depicting the Allegory of Bad Government there was one particular character that caught my eye;

“A devious looking figure adorned with horns and fangs, and appearing to be cross-eyed. This figure is identified as Tyrammides (Tyranny), who sits enthroned, resting his feet upon a goat (symbolic of luxury) while holding a dagger.

Below the tyrant the captive figure of Justice lies bound, while the figures of Cruelty, Deceit, Fraud, Fury, Division, and War flank him, and above him float the figures of Avarice, Pride, and Vainglory. These figures, according to an advice book for city magistrates of the time, were considered to be the ‘leading enemies of human life’ ” (Wiki)

Certain facial similarities with a recent photograph of Boris Johnson, caught by photographer, Daniel Leal at a NATO Press Conference (Getty Images) were begging to be played with and I started mucking about in the studio. The down-turned corners of Boris’s mouth were ripe for a couple of fangs. Looks like they’re coming back to bite him…