Tag Archives: The Deposition

Paintings from the Lebowski Cycle

The Death of Marat (After David) • Joe Forkan 2008, oil on linen, 96" x 58"

The Death of Marat (After David) • Joe Forkan 2008, oil on linen, 96″ x 58″

I’ve had a few requests to put all of the original 14 paintings from The Lebowski Cycle into one post. So, here they are. (Update: A 15th Painting is also included now). The source paintings and more info about the Cycle can be found deeper in this blog. It looks like there will be a couple of exhibits of the original paintings coming up in the next year, one in California, and one in New York. Check back for more info. Also, I’ll be printing some limited edition giclee prints in the near future. Send me an email if you want to be notified when they are available.

Oath of the Horatii • Joe Forkan 2006-2010 Oil on Linen 72" x 40"

Oath of the Horatii • Joe Forkan 2006-2010 Oil on Linen 72″ x 40″

 

The Lamentation • Joe Forkan 2006-2011 Oil on Linen 72" x 40"

The Lamentation • Joe Forkan 2006-2011 Oil on Linen 72″ x 40″

 

Sacred and Profane Love (After Titian) • Joe Forkan 2011 oil on linen, 72" x 40" (182.88 cm x 101.60 cm)

Sacred and Profane Love (After Titian) • Joe Forkan 2011 oil on linen, 72″ x 40″ (182.88 cm x 101.60 cm)

 

The Agony in the Garden (After Carracci)• Joe Forkan 2006-2011 oil on linen, 76" x 48" (193.04 cm x 121.92)

The Agony in the Garden (After Carracci) • Joe Forkan 2006-2011 oil on linen, 76″ x 48″ (193.04 cm x 121.92)

 

The Deposition from the Cross (After Pontormo) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 72" x 40"

The Deposition from the Cross (After Pontormo) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 72″ x 40″

 

Baptism of Christ (After Carracci) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen 24” x 38"”

Baptism of Christ (After Carracci) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen 24” x 38″”

 

Supper at Emmaus (After Caravaggio) • Joe Forkan 2006-2009 oil on linen 96"x 38"

Supper at Emmaus (After Caravaggio) • Joe Forkan 2006-2009 oil on linen 96″x 38″

 

The Raft of the Medusa (After Géricault) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 84" x 144"

The Raft of the Medusa (After Géricault) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 84″ x 144″

 

Venus • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 72" x 50"

Venus • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 72″ x 50″

 

Wanderer800

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (After Friedrich) • Joe Forkan 2009, oil on linen, 80″ x 48″

 

taking-of-christ800

The Taking of Christ (After Caravaggio) • Joe Forkan 2009, oil on linen, 72″ x 40″

 

MOCA 05 Ecce Homo

Ecce Homo (After Guercino) • Joe Forkan 2009, oil on linen, 72″ x 40″

 

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (after Caravaggio) • Joe Forkan 2014 Oil on Linen 72" x 40"

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (after Caravaggio) • Joe Forkan 2014 Oil on Linen 72″ x 40″

 

Jester (After Velazquez's Portrait of Pablo de Valladolid) • Joe Forkan oil on linen, 48" x 76" (121.92 cm x 193.04 cm)

Jester (After Velazquez’s Portrait of Pablo de Valladolid) • Joe Forkan oil on linen, 48″ x 76″ (121.92 cm x 193.04 cm

 

The Lebowski Cycle – Ecce Homo

Ecce Homo (After Guercino) • Joe Forkan 2009, oil on linen, 72" x 40"

Ecce Homo Il Guercino 1647 Oil on canvas 42.25 in x 58.66 in Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Ecce Homo Il Guercino 1647 Oil on canvas 42.25 in x 58.66 in Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Ecce Homo are the Latin words used by Pontius Pilate when he presented Jesus Christ, bound and crowned with thorns, to a hostile crowd shortly before his crucifixion. The Ecce Homo is a standard component of paintings illustrating the Passion of Christ.

For this painting, I was really looking for a strong narrative with energy, physical conflict and resignation, that could shift from seriousness to the absurd and back.  This painting references a scene from the Big Lebowski, in which the Dude is arrested by the Malibu police.

Whether it’s Pontius Pilate or the Chief of Police of Malibu, narrative conflict is narrative conflict, and provides a moment of tension and drama on which to build.

Six of the twelve original paintings in The Lebowski Cycle deal with the Passion of Christ: The Agony in the Garden, The Taking of Christ, Ecce Homo, The Deposition, The Lamentation, and The Supper at Emmaus. All are near completion.