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The tricky art of a state funeral The tricky art of a state funeral
(6 months later)
In some of his most powerful silk-screen paintings, Andy Warhol commemorated the funeral of John F Kennedy. The artist clipped news photographs of the event, zooming in on a Jackie Kennedy dazed by grief. The raw black of newsprint images contrasts starkly with Warhol's potent painted colours to harrow the onlooker.In some of his most powerful silk-screen paintings, Andy Warhol commemorated the funeral of John F Kennedy. The artist clipped news photographs of the event, zooming in on a Jackie Kennedy dazed by grief. The raw black of newsprint images contrasts starkly with Warhol's potent painted colours to harrow the onlooker.
The photographs from which Warhol made his silk screens were taken at the state funeral of JFK in November 1963. After lying in state in Washington, Kennedy was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. It was a farewell that moved the world, and that Warhol's paintings – finished by 1964 – make immediate and painful.The photographs from which Warhol made his silk screens were taken at the state funeral of JFK in November 1963. After lying in state in Washington, Kennedy was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. It was a farewell that moved the world, and that Warhol's paintings – finished by 1964 – make immediate and painful.
There was no controversy about Kennedy's official state funeral to match criticism that is emerging in some quarters of Margaret Thatcher's not quite state funeral. He had been assassinated on 22 November 1963 in Dallas, Texas. He was the youngest president there had ever been; a war hero too. Of course he had a massive public send-off. Artists shared the mourning for years afterwards – Kennedy's image haunts Robert Rauschenberg's paintings as well as those of Warhol.There was no controversy about Kennedy's official state funeral to match criticism that is emerging in some quarters of Margaret Thatcher's not quite state funeral. He had been assassinated on 22 November 1963 in Dallas, Texas. He was the youngest president there had ever been; a war hero too. Of course he had a massive public send-off. Artists shared the mourning for years afterwards – Kennedy's image haunts Robert Rauschenberg's paintings as well as those of Warhol.
Artists, apparently, do love a funeral, and the ways public funerals have been depicted in paintings offer many comparisons with the massive ritual of mourning that Britain is about to undergo. Perhaps the most enthusiastic image of a grand funeral is El Greco's 16th-century painting The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, in which distinguished gentlemen in ruff collars and black suits witness the dead man's miraculous transportation to heaven.Artists, apparently, do love a funeral, and the ways public funerals have been depicted in paintings offer many comparisons with the massive ritual of mourning that Britain is about to undergo. Perhaps the most enthusiastic image of a grand funeral is El Greco's 16th-century painting The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, in which distinguished gentlemen in ruff collars and black suits witness the dead man's miraculous transportation to heaven.
Perhaps that is what organisers of Operation True Blue hope will happen: a divine consummation that not only elevates Lady Thatcher to paradise but the Conservative Party to an electoral majority. Yet it is a perspective-inducing thought – for critics as well as fans of Margaret Thatcher – that massive funerals do not necessarily mean much in the long term. Collective memory cannot be battered into adoring someone by official obsequies. This fact is made sadly clear by JMW Turner's picture of the funeral of Sir Thomas Lawrence. Turner shows the scene outside St Paul's, where this great man was laid to rest with suitable honours …Perhaps that is what organisers of Operation True Blue hope will happen: a divine consummation that not only elevates Lady Thatcher to paradise but the Conservative Party to an electoral majority. Yet it is a perspective-inducing thought – for critics as well as fans of Margaret Thatcher – that massive funerals do not necessarily mean much in the long term. Collective memory cannot be battered into adoring someone by official obsequies. This fact is made sadly clear by JMW Turner's picture of the funeral of Sir Thomas Lawrence. Turner shows the scene outside St Paul's, where this great man was laid to rest with suitable honours …
… Sir Thomas who? Lawrence was the star portrait artist of George IV's reign but is now largely forgotten (unjustly, as it happens). Turner's record of his funeral is all the sadder because we know the honour of being buried in the crypt of St Paul's meant so little in terms of Lawrence's place in history.… Sir Thomas who? Lawrence was the star portrait artist of George IV's reign but is now largely forgotten (unjustly, as it happens). Turner's record of his funeral is all the sadder because we know the honour of being buried in the crypt of St Paul's meant so little in terms of Lawrence's place in history.
Funerals after all are strange events precariously balanced not just between life and death, but between authentic grief and hypocrisy. Even a private citizen's funeral is like this: in Gustave Courbet's disturbing painting A Burial at Ornans, a rustic funeral is a gathering at which the mourners look hard-faced, unreadable, their real feelings hidden.Funerals after all are strange events precariously balanced not just between life and death, but between authentic grief and hypocrisy. Even a private citizen's funeral is like this: in Gustave Courbet's disturbing painting A Burial at Ornans, a rustic funeral is a gathering at which the mourners look hard-faced, unreadable, their real feelings hidden.
Even at the private level, a funeral is a delicate thing to get right. When it comes to mass mourning, the complexities are greater. You can't compel grief or discipline memory. Just think of poor old Lawrence and the coming ceremonies will seem less significant.Even at the private level, a funeral is a delicate thing to get right. When it comes to mass mourning, the complexities are greater. You can't compel grief or discipline memory. Just think of poor old Lawrence and the coming ceremonies will seem less significant.
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