Othello
signed (lower left) dated 2005 (verso)
acrylic on canvas
60" x 24" (152 cm x 61 cm)
León Gallery wishes to thank the artist forconfirming the authenticity of this lot



Marcel Antonio touches on the timeless legacy of William Shakespeare's literary virtuoso, mainly focusing on a scene from his enduring tragedy 'Othello.' In that play, Shakespeare tells the story of Othello and Iago. Othello is a Moorish general in command of the Venetian army. Iago is his junior officer. He abhors Othello since the latter had promoted the much younger Cassio to the rank of chief lieutenant instead of him. The intensity of Iago's envy leads him to an irrational fit of fury. With the help of his wife, Emilia, an unknowing accomplice, and Roderigo, who is in love with Desdemona, Iago plans Othello's ultimate downfall. Iago misleads Othello, telling him that his wife, Desdemona, who is much younger than him, and Cassio, his loyal and most beloved captain, are in an adulterous affair. One day, Desdemona drops her handkerchief, Othello's first gift to her, which Emilia finds. At the behest of Iago, Emilia naively gives it to her husband. Iago then proceeds to Othello and uses the handkerchief as evidence of Desdemona and Cassio's romance, saying it was their token of love. Deceived, Othello makes Iago his lieutenant. Iago also persuades Othello to secretly listen to a conversation between himself and Cassio, supposedly talking about the latter's affair with Desdemona. Entrapped in an unfortunate spin of lies, Othello kills Desdemona. Fuelled by morbid jealousy, Othello denigrated himself. He believed that as an older black man, he was already dull and unappealing to his wife, a white woman. Emilia, realizing what Iago has done when Othello reveals the handkerchief as evidence of Desdemona and Cassio's affair, exposes and condemns her husband. Othello commits suicide, realizing it is too late to redeem himself and his beloved wife. (A.M.)