Noblesse Oblige (Queen on Moose) by Charles Pachter
Charles Pachter
Noblesse Oblige (Queen on Moose)
acrylic and pencil on canvas board
signed and dated 1972 lower right; titled and dated 1972 to the label on the reverse
30 x 24 in ( 76.2 x 61 cm )
Auction Estimate: $20,000.00 - $30,000.00
Price Realized: $24,000.00
Acquired directly from the Artist
Collection of Lorraine Monk, Ontario
Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov, "Charles Pachter", Toronto, 1992, reproduced page 55
In "Charles Pachter", Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov notes that "in 1972, Pachter became involved with a group of cultural activists and began to reflect on the relationship of art to national identity. By July he was exploring the issue in depth, while collecting images of Queen Elizabeth and of the elusive animal he would come to consider the ultimate symbol of the Canadian psyche – the moose."
"By the Fall of 1972 he began to concentrate on painting in acrylic, depicting in various Canadian settings the queen alone or accompanied by a moose." The artist, amazed by the fact that Canada's Head of State did not reside within the nation which she ruled, presented Canada's English Monarch together with Canada's resident Monarch, the Moose, calling them "Monarchs of the North".
This work "Noblesse Oblige (Queen on Moose)" marked the beginning of a series of works that the artist would continue to explore for years to come. Pachter's paintings of Queen Elizabeth and the Moose are among the most recognizable images of pop art to originate from Canada. Works depicting the Monarchs of the North hang in significant private collections in Canada and internationally. One such work was gifted to Queen Elizabeth, while both Princes William and Harry received the iconic images from their father, King Charles, after he requested them from the artist during a visit to Canada. Charles was delighted by Pachter's imagery and felt that the Princes would greatly appreciate this unique portrayal of their grandmother.
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Charles Pachter
(1942)
With a focus on national identity and cultural symbolism, Charles Pachter has emerged as one of Canada’s most recognizable and celebrated contemporary artists. Born in 1942 in Toronto, Ontario, to Jewish immigrant parents, Pachter developed a deep interest in Canadian heritage and visual storytelling from an early age. He studied at the University of Toronto, the Sorbonne in Paris, and the Cranbrook Academy of Michigan, cultivating a diverse artistic education that would shape his eclectic and bold approach.
Pachter rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, adopting a Pop Art aesthetic similar in spirit to his American contemporaries while placing a focus on Canadian culture. His work reimagines national iconography including Queen Elizabeth II, the Canadian flag, and the country’s wildlife with wit, reverence, and irony. Best known for his stylized renderings of moose in unexpected contexts with his “Queen on Moose” series, Pachter combines flare, vivid colour fields with sharp graphics to elevate the everyday into the iconic. In addition to painting, he has worked as a printmaker, muralist, and designer, and has made lasting contributions to public art across Canada. His mural of the Maple Leaf flag on Toronto’s Grange Avenue has become a beloved landmark. Throughout his career, Pachter has continued to explore themes of memory, patriotism, and modernity. His legacy includes not only a prolific body of visual work but also a lifelong dedication to promoting Canadian identity through art. Now residing and working in a self-designed home and studio known as the Moose Factory in downtown Toronto, Pachter remains a vital figure in the Canadian landscape.
