Details

Now, don't hold the quality of the picture against the poor creatures shown. Tony loved pigeons and they feature often in his work. In this case they are the symbol of love and tender togetherness. The cock-pigeon seems to be offering an olive branch to his mate. War and peace might have been on his mind. I am fond of the purples and how the paint is applied right beneath them. In Belgium pigeon racing is a popular sport and big sums are involved in winning. In the town of Lier, one Sunday a month, the pigeon lovers gather to exchange birds and to sell offspring of big champions. Tony would go there once in awhile and mingle and seem to be anything as knowledgeable as the sportsmen. They would even let him handle a champion after watching him a while. The detail is of the same big canvas as yesterday's flamenco player.