The Regal Marriage by Elizabeth Kyle.

While the guests are absorbed in witnessing this event, the Jester is aware of our presence, as we join them on this special occasion. The Jester is the story-teller and invites us into the painting with clues as to its mystery. The black and white colours of his diamond-patterned costume represent two opposites – Yin and Yang / masculine and feminine / positive and negative. These opposites have nothing to do with judgement - nothing to do with good and bad/evil. All the symbols are good and vital. The Universe is made of energy and these opposite forces are present in everything making the Universe work: for example fire/water, up/down, black/white, day/night, push/pull and so on. To illustrate this opposite nature we may refer to them as masculine and feminine or positive and negative. Just as the intelligent, clever and witty Jesters of mediaeval times had the perilous job of explaining difficult situations to the kings, in a humourous and simple way (so that the king would not fly into a rage and send them to the guillotine), our Jester also has the difficult job of explaining something for which there are no words. Sometimes he acts as a mirror of ourselves, or he speaks in riddles showing us that there is more than one way of looking at things. He uses universal symbols and archetypes, and we can make of them, or take from them as we wish – for they are parables (stories within stories) with as many interpretations as there are viewers. This painting could just as rightly be a pretty picture of a beautiful princess - to a young girl, as it could represent something of a deeper nature to others. Perhaps it could represent the union of universal and personal consciousness. Perhaps it could represent the conscious, subconscious and super-conscious minds. The subconscious knows things which need to become conscious in the brain, and understood, for us to become enlightened and whole. Having our masculine (intellect) and feminine (feelings, intuition, emotions) working in balance makes us whole. Perhaps we need to honour our intuition (feminine) before we take physical action (masculine). All interpretations of Visionary Art are equally right and they are numerous. Often several symbols have the same meaning and serve to reinforce the same message. It is preferable not to intellectualise about the painting (masculine principle, head), as these kinds of Visionary paintings are best viewed from our hearts and our intuitive feelings (feminine principle) about them. I hope there is a special message in this painting for you.