The King has a new portrait

[YaMuvva]

Maybe it’s because I know nothing about art but my initials thoughts are…”Huh”

From the artist:
"It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers' Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his Coronation. When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I've painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject's role in our public life has transformed. I do my best to capture the life experiences and humanity etched into any individual sitter's face, and I hope that is what I have achieved in this portrait. To try and capture that for His Majesty The King, who occupies such a unique role, was both a tremendous professional challenge, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and am immensely grateful for."

@WimseyofBalliol I like those three a lot more! They seem to have similar colours in foreground and background but still be clear and distinct.

In the king's portrait the subject seems a lot less distinct.

Maybe in person the bright colours are a thing to behold on their own and make for a good image even if there wasn't a person in there. But he seems to be a minor character in his own portrait.

I really like it - but he's made Charles look very much like the late Geoffrey Palmer (who starred in Butterflies, so you never know)?! The Camilla portrait is rather wonderful.

He painted the old Duke of Edinburgh in a more traditional style. Probably felt he could get away with a more avant-garde approach with Charles without fear of salty comments.

It is bloody awful.

Interesting that it seems to evoke a love/hate reaction. No one so far is indifferent.

Not at all

Looking at it again, I think it’s possible that mottled bright pinky-red was a deliberate choice, to allow the painter to cool down Charles’ own often very ruddy skin tone. (Does he have rosacea, possibly?) There's probably a fine line required between honesty and restraint in painting a royal as a Drapers’ Company commission. Having such a red surround lets him paint the skin in much cooler flesh tones.

Well I would be. Gleefully misquoting a conversation you should never have been hearing in the first place.

I didn’t quote anything let alone misquote it, so find a straw man elsewhere

So you just plucked “Camilla’s used tampon” from obscurity?

I really like the pink/coral colour and I think he captured Charles expression very well.

When I saw it first I found it a bit peculiar, but I actually really like it, it's interesting and very different.

I just don’t understand why there’s all that red everywhere?

I was shocked when I first saw it because it’s so different for a royal portrait. Good on Charles for allowing something more experimental though.

I really like it. Really holds your attention and pulls you in.

Thank you for showing these three.

I don’t dislike it although I’m not sure about the red. However, that’s seeing it on a small screen and one which doesn’t necessarily show colour accurately. It would be interesting to see the portrait in the flesh. I suspect my reaction might be different then.

It's just not nice, is it? I'm roaring with laughter. Ma'am, honestly, you didn't look like that exactly. I wonder what PP said when he saw that one.

@WimseyofBalliol Very good point.
I am totally fascinated by portraits, it is incredible what different artists see in the same sitter, as seen on shows like PAOTY.
This one certainly has great impact .

I absolutely love it! The red is wonderful as is the style, brilliant

I don't think the likeness is good enough. Yes, it has a look about Charles, but isn't totally on the money. It's typical Jonathon Yeo and the sort of thing he does with a lot of his portraits (almost a set piece); would have been nice to see him try something different with a commission like that.

I love it and very keen to see it when it’s on public display.

I remember seeing it at the time and recoiling in horror. Poor Liz!

I love that he looks both like himself and somewhat fragile. I see both strength and vulnerability.

I also adore this thread. Every single post. It’s made me smile and laugh.

I love it.

I love that he looks both like himself and somewhat fragile. I see both strength and vulnerability.

That's very perceptive AliceOlive.

I really like it, it’s very striking!

It looks more pink (ish) here: