A Monkey in the Forest

Watercolor & 24-ct gold leaf on paper, 56 x 22 cm, Private Collection

I like to tell a story in my paintings, but it can mean whatever you want it to. This painting is of a forest—you see the trees and the stag. There is the sense of a chase. You may not notice the monkey holding a branch at first—perhaps he is escaping with the tree of knowledge? Then you see the peregrine and lark in the treetops, and the rabbits and plants in the undergrowth, and the story is developed. Allusions to old art give us a sense of security, yet anything might happen. The initial monkey inspiration was a medieval enamel spoon that drew me to find the Beaker with Apes or Monkey Cup from 15th-century Netherlands (currently in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art).

Detail