King Charles III’s first official portrait was unveiled this week to public criticism over its contemporary take on the British monarch.
The portrait was commissioned to celebrate King Charles’s 50 years as a member of the Drapers’ Company, one of the U.K.’s oldest charitable bodies. Artist Jonathan Yeo said his goal was to highlight “a 21st-century monarchy” but the dramatic backdrop was likened to a “pinkish psychedelic splurge” by Jonathan Jones in The Guardian and a “grisly execution” at the Tower of London by Kate Mansey in The Times.
King Charles himself looked “mildly surprised” as he pulled back the black curtain to reveal the bold portrait, which he last saw in a “half-done state,” but seemed to smile “approvingly,” Yeo shared with BBC.
Portraits of official figures are often subject to criticism and discussion – depending on the artist and direction chosen, they can be lauded or derided. Here are a few recent portraits that have polarized audiences and remained subjects of conversation.
King Charles unveiled the first official portrait of himself since his coronation last year on Tuesday (May 14). Reaction in London was mixed, with the artwork described as "pretty red," "modern" and "ghoulish."
Casually seated in a lush green garden, former U.S. president Barack Obama’s official presidential portrait, painted by Kehinde Wiley and unveiled in 2018, was a departure from the portraits of past presidents. Displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, it stirred criticism for being too abstract – and received comparisons to the “Homer Simpson Backing into a Bush” meme.
Meanwhile to many, former first lady Michelle Obama’s face was unrecognizable in her portrait. Brittany Britto claimed in The Baltimore Sun that the grey-scaled painting looked “more like Kerry Washington than Mrs. O” and Holland Cotter declared in The New York Times that it could be “almost anyone’s face, like a model’s face in a fashion spread.” According to the artist, Amy Sherald, the element of mystery was intentional and only “Mickey Mouse” could create work that was universally loved.
The Obama portraits garnered a strong cultural reaction, emblematic of Obama’s presidency, and were also praised for being strikingly unconventional. They were also historic; artists Wiley and Sherald are the first African-American artists to create Smithsonian-commissioned portraits of a former president and first lady.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
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“Gadzooks! Why have you given me a great schonk?” That was allegedly Prince Philip’s reaction to seeing a bare-chested, big-nosed portrait of himself painted by notorious contemporary artist Stuart Pearson Wright. In the portrait, titled hom*o sapiens, Lepidum sativum and Calliphora vomitoria, Prince Philip is pictured with grey chest hair, a blue bottle fly on his shoulder and a plant growing out of his raised index finger.
Prince Phillip sat for four (fully clothed) one-hour sessions with Wright but the relationship between the artist and subject quickly soured as the painting turned more abstract and with less clothing than appropriate. Initially commissioned by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce to celebrate Prince Philip’s 50th anniversary as president, the RSA instead chose to display a second portrait by Wright that showed less skin and an elongated neck.
Sir Winston Churchill
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The former British prime minister had a less-than-pleased reaction to his birthday gift, a portrait commissioned by the Houses of Parliament in November, 1954. Churchill found the painting, by Graham Sutherland, deeply unflattering. He even compared the likeness to that of a “down-and-out who has been picked out of the gutter,” as The London Magazine reported.
After being presented to the public, the painting was hidden in his Chartwell home before being incinerated as per his wishes by his secretary.
Catherine, duch*ess of Cambridge (now Princess of Wales)
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Displayed at the National Portrait Gallery, the duch*ess of Cambridge’s official portrait has been described by Charlotte Higgins in The Guardian as vampiric, as if “she has been transformed into something unpleasant from the Twilight franchise” with its pale finish, silvery hair and “undead” eyes that aged Catherine beyond her years. Art critic Mark Hudson found it reminiscent of a “piece of mawkish book illustration” to be found on the cover of a romance novel rather than in a national collection.
However, Catherine, a former art history major, found the portrait “just amazing” and in her likeness, while her husband, Prince William, described it as “absolutely beautiful.”
The newest official portrait of King Charles has some critics seeing red. Actually, it has everybody seeing red. The nearly nine-foot portrait of the monarch features a lifelike depiction of his face, set against a backdrop of abstract reds swirling around and almost subsuming His Majesty.
Outwardly, this was a period of peace and prosperity, but Charles I was slowly building up opposition against him among segments of the political elite by his financial and religious policies. Many people were outraged by what they regarded as his non-parliamentary use of medieval laws to raise money.
His Majesty The King has founded 18 charities, been the patron or president of more than 400 organisations, and has an avid interest in the natural environment and sustainability.
Charles I was born in 1600, crowned King of England in 1625, and beheaded outside the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall in 1649. He was an important patron of the arts and a notable collector. Van Dyck, whose magnificent 'Equestrian Portrait of Charles I' is in the Collection, was his court painter.
One year into his reign, 60% of Britons have a favourable view of King Charles III, compared to 32% who have a negative view. Prince William, Princess Anne, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are the most popular royals, with 72-74% of Britons holding a positive view of them.
He also judged people quickly and was not good at explaining his decisions. His belief in the divine right of monarchs (that kings only answered to God and so shouldn't be challenged) meant he was not very good at being flexible or making deals with people he disagreed with (for example MPs in Parliament).
The pair have had a strained relationship for many years, but seem to have grown closer and reportedly keep in regular phone contact in recent weeks. Many noted the warmth between Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales as they walked shoulder to shoulder at the Commonwealth Day service this month.
Members of the Royal Family often carry out official duties in the UK and overseas where the Monarch cannot be present in person, such as State funerals or national festivities, or undertake visits to strengthen Britain's diplomatic and economic relations.
The official royal portrait of King Charles has been revealed, painted by artist Jonathon Yeo. It's his first portrait as King since his coronation last year. The painting is covered in a bright red colour, and features a butterfly on the King's shoulder.
King Charles has been widely recognized for his artistic abilities and deep appreciation for art. He is an accomplished watercolour painter and has been painting for most of his adult life. His preferred subjects are landscapes, particularly those of the royal estates at Balmoral and Sandringham.
“Arthur George Carrick” was a pseudonym. The real painter was the man who on Saturday will be crowned as Britain's king. Throughout his life, King Charles III has involved himself in British cultural life, not only a maker of art but as an avid spectator and patron.
Diana, Princess of Wales is a 1981 painting of Diana, Princess of Wales, by the British artist Bryan Organ. It was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in London following Diana's engagement to Charles, Prince of Wales, in February 1981 while the gallery was under the directorship of John Hayes.
Van Dyck is best known for his portraits of the aristocracy, most notably Charles I, and his family and associates. He was the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for over 150 years.
Charles I was furious and dissolved the Parliament that very same day. He did not call another one for 11 years, making clear his distaste for dealing with Parliament and his belief that the royal prerogative allowed him to rule and to raise money without it.
As King, his popularity still ranks behind that of his daughter-in-law and title-less niece, a true testament to the nationwide disapproval. Another poll from Ipsos revealed that nearly half of Great Britain believe that Charles should abdicate, letting his son become King instead.
Summoned again in March 1628, Parliament adopted a Petition of Right on 26 May, calling upon Charles to acknowledge that he could not levy taxes without Parliament's consent, impose martial law on civilians, imprison them without due process, or quarter troops in their homes.
Charles I ruled his kingdom without calling Parliament from 1629-40. During this period, called the Personal Rule, he brought in many changes. These included range of new customs duties which usually had to be approved by Parliament. As result, Charles managed to increase his income from £600,000 to £900,000 per year.
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