On Parade by Jack Vettriano: The Story and Meaning Behind the Painting
Some paintings tell a story. On Parade is about a single moment: the second before someone makes an entrance. It is one of Jack Vettriano's most striking images, and one of the simplest.
What the painting shows
A woman stands in a narrow doorway, caught between two tall door frames. She wears a scarlet jacket cut like a military dress tunic, with gold braid and buttons, over black stockings, and her dark hair is curled and pinned. One hand rests behind her back. Warm orange light floods the space around her, while the edges of the picture fall away into darkness.
She is turned slightly away from us, but there is no doubt she knows she is being looked at. The pose, the hand behind the back and the bright red against the shadows all say the same thing: this is someone about to step into a room and change the atmosphere in it.
What does "On Parade" mean?
The title works on two levels. Literally, the jacket is a soldier's or bandsman's dress uniform, the kind worn on parade. Figuratively, being "on parade" means being on show, presenting yourself to be admired. Vettriano plays with both. The uniform suggests discipline and formality, but the stockings and the pose turn it into something playful and theatrical. She is not reporting for duty; she is putting on a show, and enjoying it.
This interest in display and performance runs throughout Vettriano's work, from the dancers and showgirls of his night scenes to Private Dancer, where again a woman in control of the room is the centre of attention.
The power of red
Vettriano used red more effectively than almost any other colour, often to pull the eye to a single figure in an otherwise restrained palette. On Parade is one of his boldest examples. Almost the whole picture is built from warm oranges, browns and black, so the scarlet jacket leaps forward. It is a simple device, borrowed from cinema and fashion photography as much as from painting, and it is a big part of why the image reads so clearly from across a room.
Common misreadings
Because of the title, On Parade is sometimes described online as a picture of soldiers or a military parade. It isn't. There is a single figure, and the "parade" is entirely her own. If you are buying a print, make sure the image matches what you expect, and buy from a source that can document it.
Owning On Parade
On Parade was published in 2008 as a signed limited edition giclée of 250 prints. It is a large image, 63.5 x 50.5cm, and prints from that edition are increasingly hard to find in good condition. We describe the edition we currently hold in our post On Parade by Jack Vettriano: Signed Limited Edition Print.
If you would like the image in a smaller, more affordable form, the On Parade greeting card reproduces the full painting.
Where it works best
On Parade is made for a focal-point wall: a hallway, where it greets people as they arrive, a dining room or a bold living room. Strong, warm lighting brings out the reds. Our room-by-room styling guide has more ideas.
Contact us for more information regarding On Parade Limited edition.
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