Everything that ought to be known about Robert Kelly can be found in his books, of which this is the fortieth. From "The Court Painter":How can I show you the truth ofanyone witout his face you ask?The face is the last thing I paint,& the least important.It is there to trick the subjectinto thinking he is one,that he has been 'represented.'But where he is is in a foldof cape, shadow of a label,wrinkle between elbow & those widegold stripes that tell how great he is