Madonna and Guy Epic Fail

Sometimes things in this world make no sense whatsoever. We could speak of current events now, wherein a medical doctor was shot and killed in his place of worship for performing legal medical procedures. We could talk about billions of dollars thrown at General Motors to save it from the bankruptcy that will be filed tomorrow morning. We could discuss a US Supreme Court Justice nominee who is being attacked on the grounds her attackers are employing. We'd have to be elsewhere, though, sitting around having coffee and not necessarily engaged in art-historic chat.

So, how about this? Peter Howson, whose work I don't normally mind, had one of his canvases come up at auction yesterday. Private seller through McTear's Auctioneers. The painting depicted Material Girl Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie, both nude, in what they call Happier Times (read: 2005). Putting aside the fact the Madge looks like the Crypt Keeper here, and Guy strongly resembles The Thing from Fantastic Four, as well as the fact that no sane human would want--or, indeed, NEED--a visual reminder of these two we-pray-fictitious creatures lolling naked on a bed together, Howson usually sells well so pre-sale estimates were from £15,000 to £22,000. Unfortunately, no one told the bidders that last part and the lot went the way of the Ritchie marriage. Nominal interest (in the form of a few bids), but nothing ultimately substantial enough to warrant a lasting commitment. Que lastima, queridas y queridos.

We are left with the optimistic thought that, perhaps, sometimes ... not very often, but ... sometimes things in this world make perfect sense.

Image Credit:

Peter Howson (English, b. 1958)
Madonna and Guy, 2005
Oil on canvas
89 x 120 cm (35 x 47 3/16 in.)
Private Collection
Art © Peter Howson
Image courtesy McTear's Auctioneers