The new portrait of King Charles III by Jonathan Yeo is bathed in red, a color that sparked significant public interpretation and controversy.
The portrait features King Charles in his Welsh Guards uniform with a butterfly hovering over his shoulder, symbolizing his transformation and environmental interests.
Many commentators interpreted the red background negatively, associating it with themes like flames, hell, and colonial bloodshed, reflecting the intense scrutiny royal portraits often face.
Yeo aimed to create a modern royal portrait, aligning with King Charles's efforts to present a more contemporary image of the monarchy by reducing pageantry and the number of working royals.
The portrait echoes past instances of controversial royal art, such as the 1998 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Justin Mortimer, which also faced public backlash for its modern approach.
The portrait reflects the turbulent period of King Charles's reign, marked by familial disputes, health issues, and public controversies.
The portrait will be displayed at the Philip Mould Gallery until mid-June before moving to Drapers’ Hall in London, where it will join other royal portraits commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Drapers.
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