Joe Forkan‘s “The Lebowski Cycle” series of paintings opened last Saturday at the Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, and the exhibition will run until October 28th. The Lebowski Cycle frames scenes from the Coen Brothers’ The Big Lebowski (1998) in the context of various masterpieces from art history, particularly the Baroque works which were of interest to Forkan due to their compression of grand story arcs and many varied internal complexities into a single image. Forkan says he’s been working on these paintings since 2006, starting with 12 paintings, and now has at least 14 in progress. Each one measures at least 72″ by 40″ and proud we are of all of them.
On the next pages we have thirteen of the paintings along with the classic works they were based upon, as well as a link to the section at Forkan’s blog where he explains his process for each one. I think I might like these as much as those Old Masters’ paintings with a fat ginger cat added to them. Don’t agree? Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
The Death of Marat (After David) • Joe Forkan 2008, oil on linen, 96″ x 58″
Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David 1793
Forkan wrote about this painting of Uli floating in the pool here and here.
*****
The Taking of Christ (After Caravaggio) • Joe Forkan 2009, oil on linen, 72″ x 40″
The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio 1602
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
*****
Ecce Homo (After Guercino) • Joe Forkan 2009, oil on linen, 72″ x 40″
Ecce Homo by Il Guercino 1647
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
Supper at Emmaus (After Caravaggio) • Joe Forkan 2006-2009 oil on linen 96″x 38″
Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio 1601
Forkan wrote about this painting here and here.
*****
The Deposition from the Cross (After Pontormo) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 72″ x 40″
The Deposition from the Cross by Jacopo Pontormo – c. 1525–1528
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
*****
The Lamentation • Joe Forkan 2006-2011 Oil on Linen 72″ x 40″
The Lamentation by Peter Paul Rubens 1614
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
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 by Ludovico Carracci – about 1590
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
*****
Oath of the Horatii • Joe Forkan 2006-2010 Oil on Linen 72″ x 40″
Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David 1784
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
*****
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 by Titian – c. 1513-1514
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
*****
Venus • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 72″ x 50″
Venus of Urbino by Titian 1538
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
Jester (After Velazquez’s Portrait of Pablo de Valladolid) • Joe Forkan oil on linen, 48″ x 76″ (121.92 cm x 193.04 cm)
Portrait of Pablo de Valladolid by Diego Velázquez 1636-1637
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
*****
Baptism of Christ (After Carracci) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen 24” x 38”
Baptism of Christ by Annibale Carracci 1584
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
*****
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (After Friedrich) • Joe Forkan 2009, oil on linen, 80″ x 48″
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich 1818
Forkan wrote about this painting here.
[Hat tip and a rug that ties the whole room together to FlavorWire.]