“The first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation has emerged from the shadowy depths of Mordor.”
King Charles, 75, hosted an unveiling ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, local time, for his new painting by UK artist Jonathan Yeo (though one could be forgiven for thinking Prince Harry created it).
When Charles removed the black cloak and saw the red King emblazoned on it, he seemed to have a small panic attack. Queen Camilla reportedly nodded to Mr. Yeo and said, “Yes, you’ve got him.”
His Majesty is depicted in the portrait clutching a sword and dressed in the red Welsh Guards uniform, with a butterfly hovering over his shoulder.
It makes sense that his clothing would be painted red, but what’s most shocking is that Charles’ head is the only piece of normal color in the entire painting.
Art these days is subjective. There are countless books about intricate metaphors that are hidden beneath a paintbrush’s stroke, with pieces that can have different meanings for different people.
Here are some insightful ideas and insights that the Charles artwork has sparked on social media:
One thought, “It looks like he’s burning in hell.”
Another person commented, “This new King Charles portrait looks like the poster for a truly terrifying horror movie.”
“What the heck is this mess?” inquired another art enthusiast.
“Nearly satanic,” declared a fourth.
Another person called it “ghastly.”
As Nigel Farage, the host of GB News in the area, presented the news, he called the picture “remarkable.”
The King’s face and head are visible from the portrait, with the uniform virtually disappearing into the background.
To put it mildly, it’s unusual, but I kind of like it. It is distinct.
In order to commemorate the then-Prince of Wales’ 50 years as a member of the nonprofit organization The Drapers’ Company in 2022, Mr. Yeo was hired to paint the portrait back in 2020.
The canvas’s dimensions, which when framed measure about 2.6 by 2 meters, were carefully chosen to complement the paintings that it will eventually hang next to and blend in with Drapers’ Hall’s architectural design.
“His Majesty the King was still His Royal Highness when I began this project.” The Prince of Wales, and this portrait has changed as the subject’s role in our public life has changed, just like the butterfly I painted hovering over his shoulder,” Mr. Yeo said.
“My goal was to convey the subject’s profound humanity and, above all, to pay homage to the traditions of royal portraiture in a way that reflects a monarchy of the twenty-first century.”
The 75-year-old King is depicted in the red painting wearing the Welsh Guards uniform. The artist responsible for the portrait is Jonathan Yeo. Since the King’s coronation in May of last year, this is the first official portrait.
The artwork, which will be displayed in London’s Draper’s Hall, depicts Charles brandishing a sword while a butterfly flutters over his shoulder.
Portrait of King Charles
According to Jonathan, it was an honor and a pleasure to accept The Drapers’ Company’s commission to paint this portrait of the King, which is the first to be revealed since the King’s coronation.
“When I began this undertaking, His Majesty The monarch remained His Royal Highness. The Prince of Wales, and this portrait has changed along with the subject’s role in our public life, just like the butterfly I painted hovering over his shoulder.
