§ JOHN BELLANY C.B.E., R.A. (SCOTTISH 1942-2013)

JOHN BELLANY C.B.E., R.A. (SCOTTISH 1942-2013)
MIZPAH - 1997
Signed upper right, signed and inscribed ‘Self-Portrait, 1977' verso, oil on canvas
111cm x 79cm (43.5in x 31in)
Mizpah is a Hebrew word that means 'watchtower' and is loosely interpreted as 'May God watch over you'. It is mentioned in the Biblical story of Jacob and Laban, where a pile of stones marks an agreement between two people, with God as their watching witness. During the Victorian era, the practice of engraving rings and other types of jewellery with the word “MIZPAH” grew in popularity, connoting an emotional bond between people who are separated (either physically or by death).