ROCKSTAR

2016, Oil on Italian Linen, 84 x 70cm

He certainly looks the part. 

Martin Desjardins sculpted this portrait of his friend the 18th century court painter Pierre Mignard. With the glam-rock long hair and open shirt, it was made to conform with the alleged, “characteristically dishevelled” look of an artist.  

Utilising a huge dollop of idealisation, pretty much the only cliché missing was the face paint. Had it existed in the day we can be pretty sure it would have been included. 

Of course, Mignard didn’t look anything like that. But does that matter? Here the job defined the look. And long after the person has gone, the idealised version survives. Rockstar.