The first portrait of King Charles as monarch has been revealed, but experts have suggested the artist has hidden deeper meaning in key details.
Jonathan Yeo’s 8.5-foot-tall oil on canvas was unveiled today to the public and the royal family at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
In the painting, the King can be seen standing in his Welsh Guards uniform, with a sword in his hand and a butterfly on his shoulder, while the entire canvas is bathed in a deep red color.
Yeo has made no secret that he wanted to break with tradition for this session and make this portrait more “dynamic and contemporary.”
That’s why viewers can see some of the traditions that are maintained, such as the military suit and the sword, but with a modern twist in the striking red color and the butterfly.
Jonathan Yeo’s 8.5-foot-tall oil on canvas was unveiled today to the public and the royal family at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Charles is today at Buckingham Palace with Jonathan Yeo, who painted the portrait. In the painting, the King can be seen standing in his Welsh Guards uniform with a sword in his hand and a butterfly on his shoulder, while the entire canvas is bathed in a deep red color.
One of the most moving details is the butterfly on the Monarch’s shoulder. Yeo alleges that its inclusion was actually the Kings’ idea, which came up when the two were discussing the story behind the portrait.
‘I said, when schoolchildren look at this in 200 years and look at who’s who of monarchs, what clues can it give them?
“He said, ‘What if a butterfly lands on my shoulder?'”
Yeo added that “in art history, the butterfly symbolizes metamorphosis and rebirth,” which was perfect for him considering Carlos’s title had changed during the session.
‘When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still HRH The Prince of Wales and, like the butterfly I painted floating over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the role of the subject in our lives has transformed. public.
“I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into each model’s face.”
The artwork was initially commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’ 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company.
The painting was completed by renowned artist Jonathan Yeo (pictured in London in 2018).
King Charles III prepares to unveil the painting at Buckingham Palace in London today.
A portrait by Jonathan Yeo of Queen Camilla in 2014 when she was Duchess of Cornwall.
The butterfly is also a reference to the King’s interest in the environment, because “he has defended it for most of his life and certainly long before it became mainstream conversation.”
However, speaking to MailOnline, Professor Geraldine Johnson, head of the Department of Art History at Oxford University, suggested the insect’s inclusion may be a nod to the monarchy’s “endangered” future.
‘According to Yeo, the butterfly was a chance suggestion from the King. If this is correct, it may be due to Charles’s familiarity with half a millennium of British portraiture.
‘But it also undoubtedly reflects his lifelong passion for the natural world. However, one wonders if it was the King or Yeo who made the decision to depict a particular monarch butterfly.
“While its name suggests royalty, its endangered status may inadvertently say as much about the king’s concerns about the future of the monarchy as it does about the natural world.”
He added that the butterfly “evokes the portraits of Elizabeth I, which feature insects, plants and animals embroidered on her dresses and made into elaborate pendants and brooches.”
King Charles unveils his portrait by artist Jonathan Yeo at Buckingham Palace today.
King Charles smiles as he arrives at today’s opening, at which he sat four times, starting when he was Prince of Wales in June 2021.
Queen Camilla is pictured warmly greeting artist Jonathan Yeo at today’s opening.
The Welsh Guards uniform is understood to have been inspired by the red theme; Yeo says on his website that he chose to blur the uniform and define the face to allow viewers a sense of connection to the Monarch.
“As a portrait artist, you have this unique opportunity to spend time with a subject and get to know them, so I wanted to minimize visual distractions and allow people to connect with the human being underneath.”
Professor Johnson added: “Red is a striking color that cannot be easily ignored. It is a color we associate in everyday life with warning or prohibition – think of a stop sign.
“But red also has historical associations with power, including through a long tradition of royal portraits.
‘Napoleon, for example, was depicted on his imperial throne dressed in sumptuous red ermine-lined robes in an iconic portrait by Ingres, while Henry VIII was portrayed by Holbein in a crimson dress.
“Queen Victoria also often appeared in official portraits dressed in red velvet.”
Yeo previously produced commissions for Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Camilla, Sir Tony Blair and Lord David Cameron.
The portrait will eventually hang in Drapers’ Hall, a livery company and philanthropic institution in the City of London.