Shape Collection: Tom Shakespeare - Dead Christ

Title: Dead Christ (After Mantegna)

Artist: Tom Shakespeare

Year: 2008

Medium: Giclée prints

Dimensions: 70cm (h) x 80 cm (w)

Originally inspired by the Gothic Nightmares exhibition at Tate Britain, the Triptych is a conversation between Shakespeare and some of the great works from the Renaissance to the modern era, centring on the theme of human embodiment. The triptych is Shakespeare’s largest body of visual work to date and consists of ‘The Nightmare (After Fuseli)’, ‘Figure with Meat (After Bacon)’ and ‘Dead Christ (After Mantegna).’

‘Dead Christ,’ is based on Shakespeare’s idea that the early attempt at perspective in Mantegna’s original creates an optical illusion in which Christ appears to have achondroplasia (Shakespeare’s form of dwarfism).

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Work is available to loan on request. If you have any queries about the Shape Collection please contactexhibitions@shapearts.org.uk