John Major ('Mona Major')

1 portrait of John Major

3 Likes voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation

John Major ('Mona Major')

by Peter Kennard
photomontage gelatin silver prints with ink on card, 1992
15 1/8 in. x 10 7/8 in. (383 mm x 275 mm) overall
Transferred from National Portrait Gallery Reference Collection (originally purchased, 2019), 2019
Primary Collection
NPG P2082

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Peter Kennard (1949-), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

In 'Mona Major', Kennard draws on the enigmatic (and notably European) image of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa to parody the political turmoil within the Conservative Party over the Maastricht treaty – including the beginnings of the European Union and the heated debate about the creation of a single currency. During John Major’s tenure as Prime Minister, a number of Conservative MPs, 'the Maastricht Rebels', refused to support Major in implementing the treaty terms. These issues re-emerged with the Brexit referendum of 2016 and the invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union signalling Britain’s intention to leave the EU.

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1992back to top

Current affairs

The Church of England votes narrowly in favour of the ordination of women priests. The first women priests were ordained in 1994, inspiring the popular sitcom The Vicar of Dibley.
John Major is forced to take the pound off the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Black Wednesday, when currency dealers continued selling sterling despite a dramatic increase in interest rates. The event damaged the Conservative party's reputation irreparably.

Art and science

The long-running sitcom Absolutely Fabulous airs for the first time on the BBC starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley as style-obsessed, middle-aged media luvvies Eddy and Patsy. June Whitfield played Eddy's mother, and Julia Sawalha her long-suffering daughter Saffy (or, 'sweetie darling').

International

Members of the European Community sign the Maastricht Treaty leading to the creation of the European Union. The treaty led to the creation of the 'Euro' currency and its policy was based on a 'three pillars structure' concerned with: 1. Community. 2 . Foreign and Security Policy. 3. Criminal Matters.
At a referendum, Bosnia and Herzegovina vote to become a separate state from Yugoslavia. Civil war soon broke out.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.