Decaying Throne is an exploration of humanity's pursuit of needless things and the ephemeral quality of wealth and fame. The background of this piece was inspired by Frederic Edwin Church's "The Icebergs." Church, was well known throughout most of his life as one of America's greatest and most popular artists. However, by the end of his life, his artistic style and paintings had lost their popularity and were seen as needlessly detailed. The image of an iceberg melting both as a representation of time, and in the wake of ensuing climate change, seemed poignant as a backdrop for the main subject of the painting. The Walrus was chosen as a subject due to their expression and symbolism. Old men are sometimes referred to as walruses, and the ancient look of the animal seemed to fit the narrative well. As he sits of a pile of rotting fish, something that is not within his normal diet, he is almost statuesque. He becomes a symbol of the past, as nature continues on without pause.