Bob Gloria in Excesis Deo Robert Mccall

The composition presents a staged vista, seemingly constructed from disparate architectural and natural elements. A checkerboard floor extends towards a monumental staircase, leading the eye into a luminous space dominated by a radiant sunburst. Flanking this central axis are two substantial columns, reminiscent of classical architecture, their orange hue contrasting with the predominantly blue and green palette of the landscape beyond.
The background reveals a sweeping panorama: rolling hills dotted with vegetation give way to distant mountains silhouetted against a twilight sky. Two celestial bodies – one resembling a full moon and the other an orb of indeterminate nature – float in this upper register, adding a layer of surrealism to the scene. A solitary flagpole stands near the staircase, its banner obscured by the intense light emanating from the sun.
A potted plant containing lilies sits prominently on the left side of the checkerboard floor, offering a touch of organic life within the otherwise rigid geometry. The overall effect is one of deliberate artifice; it’s not a natural landscape but rather an idealized and constructed environment.
Subtexts suggest themes of order versus chaos, the earthly and the divine, and perhaps even a commentary on constructed realities. The checkerboard floor, a symbol often associated with duality and moral choices, grounds the scene while the celestial elements introduce a sense of transcendence. The columns could represent pillars of faith or reason, supporting the structure of this imagined world. The lilies, traditionally symbols of purity and resurrection, offer a counterpoint to the potentially oppressive nature of the rigid architecture.
The intense light source, positioned centrally, acts as both a focal point and a potential symbol of revelation or enlightenment, though its overwhelming brightness also obscures detail and creates an atmosphere of ambiguity. Ultimately, the painting invites contemplation on the relationship between human creation and the natural world, questioning the boundaries between reality and representation.