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Mutual Congratulations

BANTING, John

© Estate of John Banting. All Rights Reserved 2025/Bridgeman Images/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
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Mutual Congratulations depicts two chess pieces with skulls atop. These represent two socialite figures belonging to the upper class. They are hollow like death and the mutual congratulations are just as empty and insignificant as they annul each other. Representing the social elite as skeletal forms was a favourite theme of Banting's and is most apparent in his book, 'The Blue Book of Conversation', 1946 which caricatures the upper class in this manner. The sarcasm of the work is a reflection of his disapproval of the superficiality of English high society, particularly those who remained at home and profited from World War Two.


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Details

Collection

Derek Williams Trust / Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales

Item Number

NMW A(L) 1611

Creation/Production

BANTING, John
Date: 1937 ca

Measurements

Height (cm): 101.5
Width (cm): 76.2
(): h(cm) frame:116.5
(): h(cm)
(): w(cm) frame:91
(): w(cm)
(): d(cm) frame:6
(): d(cm)

Techniques

oil on canvas
Techniques (fine art)
art dept - fine
Fine Art - painting

Material

oil

Location

Gallery 13

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More

Tags

  • Animal
  • Animals And Plants
  • Art And Design Movements
  • Banting, John
  • Communities And Society
  • Derek Williams Trust Collection
  • Fine Art
  • Fine Art Loan
  • Painting
  • Skull

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