Bathsheba Queen Mother (2016)

The beauty of Bathsheba was historically so enamoring that her impact on King David’s actions demanded divine intervention. It comes as no surprise then that Virtosu would choose such a significant and controversial figure from Judaism and portray the personality in an abstract yet befitting manner.

The piece titled “Bathsheba Queen Mother” appears as if the central figure is in a state of permanent freefall, suspended between the heaven and the Earth in a state of ephemerality. The figure in question – Bathsheba, was important enough to be summoned by her king and stolen from her husband through deceit and trickery. Her beauty and elegance elevated her from a commoner to becoming Queen Mother of King Solomon - arguably one of the greatest kings to have taken over the reins in Israel. The illusion of the freefall is masterfully created by Virtosu by choosing the perfect position for the center piece and accentuating the motion using solid, colorful, and unidirectional strokes. When one assumes that the central figure is Bathsheba herself, it is easy to associate the rectangular, circular, and hemispheric shapes with jewelry, aptly used to stud the gown of the great Queen. With her arms flailed out in peace and acceptance, it appears as if the great Queen relishes being torn between the two worlds.

The illusion created by Virtosu leaves it to the beholder to judge if the Queen is experiencing a fall from grace, or if she is being elevated to a higher plane of existence. The choice is in fact yet another illusion, as either interpretation can be used to frame the life of the Queen Mother.

It is obvious from Solomon’s warm greeting of his mother how much he loved and honored her. Looking to her as an important adviser, Solomon had a throne for her placed at his right hand — the first king of Israel to have a queen mother in his administration.