King Charles' initial royal portrait following his crowning stirs debate among the public.
A 2.58-meter-by-2-meter painting by British artist Jonathan Yeo features His Majesty King Charles III, wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, with a sword in his hand, against a vibrant red background that seems to almost engulf him. The background is home to a butterfly that appears ready to land on his shoulder.
Jonathan Yeo, known for his paintings of high-profile figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, actor Nicole Kidman, and education activist Malala Yousafzai, started this project even before King Charles was crowned. The artist explained that the portrait evolved along with the monarch's changing role in the public realm.
"Just like the butterfly that I've painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject's role in our public life has transformed," said Yeo in a statement shared by Buckingham Palace. "My goal was to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitter's face and, at the same time, to make reference to the traditions of royal portraiture while reflecting a 21st-century monarchy and conveying the subject's deep humanity."
Yeo spent four sessions with the King and additionally drew from existing images and photographs to create the artwork.
The painting was commissioned to mark the 50th year of Charles' membership in The Drapers' Company, which supports education initiatives and philanthropy. The masterpiece will be on display at the Philip Mould Gallery in London from May 16 to June 14. Later, it will be hung at Drapers' Hall together with other royal portraits.
Reactions to the portrait have been mixed, with some commenters on social media criticizing its visually intense red color and others regarding it as a representation of the king's transition from Prince to King.
Art historian Richard Morris, talking on X, praised the portrait, stating, "I like the portrait... Before photography, to capture your real appearance, you accepted the revelation of your flaws and your mortality. It's what Yeo captures here."
Yeo, who usually works in oils, has also experimented with collage. His most famous work of this kind is the 2007 creation of a portrait of former US President George W. Bush, made by combining cutouts from adult magazines to create a satire of the "assumed moral superiority" of extreme-right US politics.
In this portrait of King Charles, Yeo uses vivid colors of the glazes in an effort not only to match the traditional royal heritage found in many historical portraits but also to provide a modern contrast to conventional depictions by employing a uniformly strong hue. The butterfly symbolizes beauty and nature and highlights the king's passion for the environment.
Jonathan Yeo's paintings can be found in the permanent collection of London's National Portrait Gallery. The King, who described painting as "one of the most relaxing and therapeutic exercises I know" and "refreshing parts of the soul," is also an artist. A collection of his watercolors went on exhibition in London in 2022.
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This painting styled by Jonathan Yeo, showcasing his expertise in capturing high-profile figures, incorporates elements from various art forms, such as collage and traditional oil painting.
The vibrant red background and the butterfly in King Charles' portrait are not just aesthetic choices; they are symbolic representations of his transition and passion for environmental causes.
Source: edition.cnn.com
