Robert Arneson Maquette for Portrait of George (Moscone), 1981
Ceramic
16 x 6 x 6 inches
Presented by John Natsoulas Gallery, Booth B29
In 1981, Robert Arneson presented this maquette to the San Francisco Arts Commission as part of a competition to create a portrait bust commemorating the assassinated mayor, George Moscone. He, along with fellow politician Harvey Milk, were shot and killed on November 18, 1978. The endearing and naturalistic depiction of Moscone won Arneson the commission, and additional preparatory drawings held wide acclaim. However, when the completed sculpture was unveiled to the public at the Moscone Center, Arneson’s additions to the pedestal, not incorporated onto the maquette, ignited a famous controversy. Inscriptions, and depictions of bloody bullets, on the column-like base included phrases that shocked a public still reeling from the horrific murder of two popular civic leaders. The Moscone Center quickly decided to remove the completed sculpture, and it went into private hands and left the region for decades before it finally entered the collection of SFMOMA in 2012.
Arneson’s fame as humorist often overshadows his insightful political commentary, but this work marked a turning point in his career. Surprised at the intensity of public debate, Arneson gained a profound appreciation for the role he and his art could play in essential social discourse. Moving forward, he became preoccupied specifically with the industrialized military complex and nuclear destruction. This maquette represents the beginning of the final and most powerful arc of Arneson’s career.