Description:

George Rodrigue (American/Louisiana, 1944-2013), "It's Good to be the King", 1994, acrylic on canvas, signed lower left, 30 in. x 24 in., framed . Ill.: Rodrigue, George and Lawrence S. Freundlich. Blue Dog. New York: Viking Studio Books, 1994, epilogue. Note: George Rodrigue had a long history with Mardi Gras, first as a child entering costume competitions in his hometown of New Iberia, Louisiana and later in the 1970s declaring himself the tongue-in-cheek King of Mardi Gras in Lafayette. Outfitted in full regalia, Rodrigue hosted an annual and infamous social gathering for the passing of the parades and built a viewing platform in front of his house on Jefferson Street. “I displayed a huge banner that said ‘The Real King.’ Two parades passed my house on Mardi Gras Day. The party started small – just me and Tiffany [the original model for the Blue Dog] on the platform. Within three years we had 500 people, all throwing custom-designed Rodrigue doubloons.” - George Rodrigue In 1994, Rodrigue ruled as the official king of Washington Mardi Gras. The Mystick Krewe of Louisianians is comprised of Louisiana’s congressional delegation and each year hosts a private Mardi Gras celebration for 5,000 guests in Washington, D.C. The three-day event features Louisiana food, music, festival queens, parades, and an annual royal court. Rodrigue is still remembered as one of the greatest kings in the over seventy year history of the celebration. “It’s Good to be the King” from 1994 commemorates Rodrigue’s reign of Washington Mardi Gras, while drawing inspiration from his lifetime of celebrating the holiday. This colorful self-portrait of the artist includes a disco-inspired regalia, gold medallion harkening to his celebrations in Lafayette and the iconic Blue Dog so associated with the artist situated within the Louisiana landscape Rodrigue always called home. Ref.: Rodrigue, Wendy. “All Hail King George.” Musings of an Artist’s Wife. Feb. 19, 2012. www.wendyrodrigue.com. Accessed May 19, 2019. Rodrigue, Wendy. “Who Dat!...Plus Voodoo, Cow Heads, and DC Mardi Gras.” Musings of an Artist’s Wife. Jan. 25, 2010. www.wendyrodrigue.com. Accessed May 19, 2019. Neal Auction Company would like to thank Wendy Rodrigue for her assistance with this note.

  • Condition: All lots are sold “As is” and “Where is”. Neal Auction provides condition reports on items with a low estimate over $500 as a courtesy to aid in your bidding decision. No statement regarding age, condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Completed condition reports are posted as an additional image with the lot. Neal Auction does not give refunds.

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June 22, 2019 10:00 AM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

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