David Hockney's Enduring Obsession with Piero della Francesca’s ‘Baptism of Christ’
David Hockney has spent a lifetime enchanted by the Renaissance allure of Piero della Francesca's *The Baptism of Christ*. His fascination began not with the tangible canvas but through the pages of a book when he was just a child. Imagine the magic when a young Hockney finally gazed upon the original masterpiece at the National Gallery in London at the age of 18. This painting, crafted between 1437 and 1445, isn't just a mere artwork for Hockney—the seamless blend of angels, the serene Christ in River Jordan, and the evocative backdrop mirroring Piero's hometown, Sansepolcro, struck a chord deep within him.
Artistic Echoes in Hockney's Work
The influence of this piece is imprinted in Hockney’s art. Jump to 1977, and you'll spot it in his paintings like *My Parents* and *Looking at Pictures on a Screen*. In *My Parents*, a snapshot of *The Baptism* peeks out from a mirror, almost like a secret nod to its viewer. And then there's its appearance on posters in *Looking at Pictures on a Screen*. Each inclusion is a wink towards its creator, an acknowledgment of the painting's role in shaping his artistic voice.
For Hockney, it was Piero’s execution of perspective that was like a mathematical masterpiece, a symmetry that seems timeless and effortlessly clear. It’s these elements that spoke to Hockney, providing him a visual language that was crisp and palpable. As he reminisces about his early visits to the National Gallery, it’s like hearing someone talk about meeting their hero—the awe, the inspiration, the overwhelming clarity that Piero’s use of light and space offered.
A Real Versus Reproduction
Now, browsing through art in postcards or prints isn't how Hockney likes to settle—it enriches, yes, but there's a certain alchemy to seeing the real thing. He speaks to their transformative nature, hinting at this ephemeral quality that replicas can't quite capture. When you view the actual painting, it’s like standing on holy ground for an hour every day, as Hockney would say—something he ardently longs for.
The profound connection between Hockney and Piero is celebrated in the National Gallery’s 2024 bicentennial exhibition, cheekily dubbed *Hockney and Piero: A Longer Look*. Here, art lovers get to peek into Hockney’s world, seeing the side-by-side inspiration and admiration, a real-life dialogue woven between these creatives across the centuries. It seems that for Hockney, Piero’s work will forever occupy a cozy corner in his imagination, serving both as a muse and a silent conversation that continues to fuel his own creative journey.