Happy Valentine's day. Mas.s celebrates this day of Love in his newest portrait "You are always on my mind"

Mas.s, the original Dutch artist, living and working in London has created a Valentine's Day greeting message in his "Supermodel" series. He called this special work "You are always on my mind." The celebration of  this day is steeped in history. As with many western feasts it has its roots in very early Christian traditions, marked by St.Valentine of Rome. Nowadays it mainly celebrates romantic love. Millions of valentines greetings are send around the world on the 14th of February each year.

While the European folk traditions connected with Saint Valentine and St. Valentine's Day have become marginalized by the modern Anglo-American customs connecting the day with romantic love, there are some remaining associations connecting the saint with the advent of spring. The association with, or switch to romantic love has been made in the Middle Ages; Jack B. Oruch writes  that the first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in (1382) by Chaucer, he wrote:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

["For this was on St. Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."]

The artist started to work on this painting a month ago, not knowing the final title of the work. As he was in the creative proces, often using the reflective side in every person he made the connection with this special day . He says"the essence of true love is that we have our partner, our love, on our mind. All the time." I oiled that."

Series "Supermodel" - 'you are always on my mind'. 20x24 inch, oil on canvas. To be seen at Gagliardi Gallery on the Kings Road in Chelsea.

Www.gagliardigallery.org