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LOT 025

1950 - 2023
Canadian

Banquo's Funeral, Witch No. 3
encaustic on canvas
on verso signed, titled and dated 1994 - 1996
84 x 84 in, 213.4 x 213.4 cm

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000 CAD

Sold for: $40,250

Preview at: PacArt, Toronto

PROVENANCE
Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris
Private Collection, Montreal


This hypnotic work is from Tony Scherman’s Banquo’s Funeral series, its imagery drawn from William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. In the play, the three witches are prophets and forces of fate - they predict Macbeth’s future, both his rise and his downfall. They gather in an atmosphere of thunder, lightning and fog, and their collective cry of “Double, double toil and trouble; / Fire burn and caldron bubble” is unforgettable. In contrast to the conventional crone-like representation of Macbeth’s witches, Scherman depicts the Third Witch with a beguiling smile, warm eyes and luscious red lips. She is seen in dramatic close-up, which relates more to film productions of the play, as does her more modern and youthful appearance. Her visage seems benign, but knowledge of the artist’s reference to her identity adds complicated and mysterious psychological undertones. Scherman’s layered handling of the wax medium of encaustic is exquisite – glowing skin seems transparent, the background recedes into dark depths, and lines and dripping on the surface give the effect of looking through a veil. Witch No. 3 enchants us, but at any moment she may cry, “ ’Tis time, ’tis time.”

Please note: this work is unframed.


Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000 CAD

All prices are in Canadian Dollars


Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information posted, errors and omissions may occur. All bids are subject to our Terms and Conditions of Business. Bidders must ensure they have satisfied themselves with the condition of the Lot prior to bidding. Condition reports are available upon request.