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The royal family
Original poster

The King has a new portrait

306 replies

YaMuvva · 14/05/2024 16:16

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."

The King has a new portrait
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32
0w1 · 14/05/2024 22:11

I like it! He's had a few boring portraits done already in his youth, before he was King. Now he's old, but a king, it seems right that it's red.

AliceOlive · 14/05/2024 22:15

His uniform fades into the background but not his own face or his hands. The smile on his face is interesting.

Can you imagine waiting until you were his age to take on this role? Talk about a liminal existence.

I was quite angry with him 30 years ago. Quite harsh in my head. I’ve grown fond recently. What softened me was seeing his family troubles. It has humanized him.

merrymelodies · 14/05/2024 22:18

A bit "fade into the furniture" or wallpaper, in this case, for my liking.

merrymelodies · 14/05/2024 22:19

AprilPoisson · 14/05/2024 17:18

I like it but just don't understand why the background is the same as his coat.
Reminds me of this:

Exactly this.

upinaballoon · 14/05/2024 22:21

GoldThumb · 14/05/2024 22:09

I really like it, it’s very striking!

It looks more pink (ish) here:

Yes, pinkish here and more red on the TV. Maybe the colour on the TV is wrong!

Well, a red Welsh uniform as he was Prince of Wales when this was started, so
that makes sense.

I like the wrinkles on his face and the different dabs of beige.

JJathome · 14/05/2024 22:23

I think it’s excellent, one of the best and most striking portraits of a royal I’ve seen.

merrymelodies · 14/05/2024 22:24

GoldThumb · 14/05/2024 22:09

I really like it, it’s very striking!

It looks more pink (ish) here:

Ah, this is so much better.

merrymelodies · 14/05/2024 22:28

As for the original tampax comment, it was said in reality and the public knew about it. Whether or not it should have been made public is a moot point. It's disgusting and really put me off Charles, among other things.

BigWillyLittleTodger · 14/05/2024 22:36

Why is a sexual conversation between two consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes disgusting? It’s not their fault it was recorded and broadcast to the world, now that really is disgusting, funny how that part doesn’t bother you @merrymelodies

AliceOlive · 14/05/2024 22:39

@merrymelodies I have just now reread the conversation, thanks to your comment. It’s nothing like what I remembered. He wasn’t sexualizing feminine products as had been alluded to for yonks now.

Interesting in this day and age actually. Id love if you’d give it a read now and tell me what you think, if you feel the same way.

Topseyt123 · 14/05/2024 22:44

Far too much red. I don't like it.

The likeness of his face is good but the red over all of the rest of it is just far too overpowering.

Mischance · 14/05/2024 22:45

Do you remember when Rolf Harris painted the Queen and made her look like she eats children for breakfast? It was Rolf Harris who ate children for breakfast.

I like the new portrait. I am no royalist, but think this is pretty good and a great deal less boring than most royal portraits.

Peppermintytea · 14/05/2024 23:31

The background and coat fading together makes his head and hands pop in a way that reminds me of this...

The King has a new portrait
Original poster
YaMuvva · 15/05/2024 02:09

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 14/05/2024 22:07

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

That's very perceptive AliceOlive.

Absolutely - now you’ve said this @AliceOlive im actually looking at it completely differently

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YaMuvva · 15/05/2024 02:10

merrymelodies · 14/05/2024 22:28

As for the original tampax comment, it was said in reality and the public knew about it. Whether or not it should have been made public is a moot point. It's disgusting and really put me off Charles, among other things.

What was disgusting about it?

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YaMuvva · 15/05/2024 02:11

BigWillyLittleTodger · 14/05/2024 22:36

Why is a sexual conversation between two consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes disgusting? It’s not their fault it was recorded and broadcast to the world, now that really is disgusting, funny how that part doesn’t bother you @merrymelodies

Exactly I could only imagine what people would say about the private words DH and I share

Although I don’t think it was sexual as such, I thought it was rather them making each other laugh.

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YaMuvva · 15/05/2024 02:12

AliceOlive · 14/05/2024 22:39

@merrymelodies I have just now reread the conversation, thanks to your comment. It’s nothing like what I remembered. He wasn’t sexualizing feminine products as had been alluded to for yonks now.

Interesting in this day and age actually. Id love if you’d give it a read now and tell me what you think, if you feel the same way.

Edited

I have no idea why it ever was twisted to be sexual or why people say “he wanted to be Camilla’s tampon”. Very odd one

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FleursDeFilles · 15/05/2024 02:18

I think the artist did a great job with his features. But my initial reaction was that it looked bloody.

Edit to add: I am in no way a connoisseur of art, and so my brain's interpretation is probably quite basic in thinking red = blood 😅

MissTrip82 · 15/05/2024 03:16

I like that it looks bloody. The blood and the uniform - the monarchy comes from this (I don’t mean Charles but historically when kings won their throne through battle). And it reflects the impermanence also - he’s emerging from history and will also fade into it as a monarch.

HelpMeGetThrough · 15/05/2024 05:18

Hatfullofwillow · 14/05/2024 17:41

Don't know why they rejected mine.

🤣🤣🤣

Dearg · 15/05/2024 07:26

WimseyofBalliol · 14/05/2024 21:09

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.

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I think that’s a great observation. Hadn’t thought of KC’s ruddy complexion but this makes sense to me.

I love what Yeo has done.

EsmaCannonball · 15/05/2024 09:27

I was quite surprised by how non-traditional it is. Very early-90's Madchester album cover.

StarsHideYourFir3s · 15/05/2024 12:43

oh it's bad. Sorry it just reminds me of his comment about coming back as Tampax :/

StarsHideYourFir3s · 15/05/2024 12:44

the monarch butterfly is so on the nose, too

Janiie · 15/05/2024 15:36

Just awful like an ad for a horror film.

Honestly wtf was the 'artist' thinking