When Royal Portraits go Bad
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| Emsley's controversial 2013 portrait |
Royal portrait commissions have a long
history. Henry VIII
commissioned the English court painter Hans Holbein to go paint the
otherwise unseen Anne of Cleves to determine whether or not she was
marriage material. Apparently, Holbein
and her portrait thought yes. Henry
disagreed and art historians have long puzzled over how Holbein did not lose his
head.
Royal portraitist and first prize 2007 BP Portrait Award recipient, Paul
Emsley is possibly grateful that times have changed (and that his
subject is already safely married to William, Duke of Cambridge).
Despite the Duchess’ polite claims to the
contrary, her first official portrait
as an HRH could have come off better.
Less polite critics have labeled Emsley’s effort as disappointing, even
renaming the work, vampire princess,
noting that the portrait more seemingly resembles the style of the popular
Twilight films than a royal portrait.
Why should we care? Royal portraits do more than introduce a sovereign to his or her people, they are a record of the generations to which they belong. Two hundred years from now, schoolchildren will visit the Royal Portrait Gallery for insights as to the lives and personalities of their great-great-great grandparents. Kate's portrait is more than an idle curiosity to us for she is our ambassador to the ages and this is how she will be formally presented.
Why should we care? Royal portraits do more than introduce a sovereign to his or her people, they are a record of the generations to which they belong. Two hundred years from now, schoolchildren will visit the Royal Portrait Gallery for insights as to the lives and personalities of their great-great-great grandparents. Kate's portrait is more than an idle curiosity to us for she is our ambassador to the ages and this is how she will be formally presented.
