Altar Piece

"Prophet" Royal Robertson, Altar Piece, ca. 1970s-1980s, wood, paint, glitter, paper, and metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.80
Copied "Prophet" Royal Robertson, Altar Piece, ca. 1970s-1980s, wood, paint, glitter, paper, and metal, 49 x 22 x 12 in. (124.5 x 55.9 x 30.5 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.80

Artwork Details

Title
Altar Piece
Artist
Date
ca. 1970s-1980s
Location
Dimensions
49 x 22 x 12 in. (124.5 x 55.9 x 30.5 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums
Mediums Description
wood, paint, glitter, paper, and metal
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure female — full length
  • Monument — religious — altar
Object Number
1997.124.80
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.80

Artwork Description

After his wife left him, Royal Robertson created countless drawings of women as prostitutes and temptresses. His fantasy world also included spaceships, futuristic cities, and superheroes. In this piece he painted an intimidating, Amazon-like figure with revealing clothes and exaggerated proportions. By placing this alluring image on an altarpiece, Robertson expressed his belief that men are too easily bewitched by women.