|
|
|
|
 View Images
USA
South
|
Baldwin, LA
Fantastico - Prophet Royal Robertson
1936-1997
Painting (oil or water-based)
|
|
Information:
Royal Robertson was born in Baldwin, Louisiana in 1936. After 19 years of marriage, his wife Adell left him for another man. Over time, he came to believe that he was the victim of a world-wide female conspiracy.
He became "Prophet" Royal Robertson, a man who had visions of interplanetary travel and visitations from aliens who predicted the End Times.
Trained as a sign painter earlier in life, Robertson created fantastic visionary paintings and signs of his apocalyptic visions, biblical interpretations and warnings about adultery and fornication.
His house and yard were covered with his work and above the entrance to the house was a large painted sign that read "Fantastico." Unfortunately, much of the outdoor environment was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
He continued to create painted signs and drawings up until he died in Baldwin on July 05, 1997. Robertson’s work is in many collections and museums and an installation of his sign-covered wooden shack was shown at The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
From the Smithsonian:
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
A big thank you to Mark Sloan for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer my questions and for permission to use info and an image from "Self-Made Worlds: Visionary Environments" by him and Roger Manley. Neither my scan nor my synopsis do this beautiful must-have book justice. DigiMarked image is a small detail from a large photo.
|
 |
Bibliography:
"Baking in the Sun, Visionary Images from the South" by Andy Nasisse and Maude Wahlman, University of Washington Press, exhibit catalog, 1987.
"Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century American Folk Art and Artists" by Chuck and Jan Rosenak, Abbeville Press, New York, 1990.
"20th Century American Folk, Self Taught, and Outsider Art" by Betty-Carol Sellen, Cynthia J. Johnson, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York, 1993.
"Souls Grown Deep: African American vernacular Art of the South", Vol 1, Arnett, et al, 1995.
"Self-Made Worlds: Visionary Environments" by Roger Manley and Mark Sloan, Aperture, New York, 1997.
"Self Taught, Outsider, and Folk Art—A guide to American Artists, Locations and Resources" by Betty-Carol Sellen with Cynthia J. Johnson, 2000.
"American Self-Taught Art: An Illustrated Analysis of 20th Century Artists and Trends with 1,319 Capsule Biographies" by Florence Laffal and Julius Laffal, 2003. |
| |
