The Coronation Portraits and The King's Tour Artists - at Buckingham Palace

Charles III and Camilla - the Coronation Portraits

This post is about:

• my comments on the Coronation Portraits
• how to see the Coronation Portraits in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace
• a new exhibition in the Throne Room about those artists who have been commissioned to go on an official tour with King Charles (or Prince of Wales as he was then) - and the artwork they have produced. Which I may well visit as he has a good choice in artists who have accompanied him in the past

The Coronation Portraits

I said on Facebook that I'd leave comments until I had seen them up closely - and now I have!

Last week, I visited the National Gallery - ostensibly to see the new entrance. I'd completely forgotten that the Coronation Portraits were on display - so coming across them was something of a surprise.

I have also posted my photos in a post on Facebook so if you want to see larger versions of the images in this post, that's where to go.

Otherwise, if you want to see them, you now need to visit the Throne Room in Buckingham Palace when the tours of the Palace reopen on 10th July (until 28th September). Whatever you do, do NOT get tickets from third parties which are often much more expensive. Instead click the link above which takes you direct to the Royal Collection Page and the basic cost of tickets which are not cheap - but not excessive as third party ones are.

Tickets also give you access to the exhibition in the throne room of 70 paintings executed by artists who have accompanied the King over the course of the last 40 years when he has been on Royal Tours. Of which more below.....

The Coronation Portraits

The Coronation Portraits in the National Gallery

What do I think of the Coronation Portraits? Pretty much the same as most people

• two different styles - but within the range acceptable for royal portraits i.e. realistic and a bit painterly
• hers is better than his
• there is something wrong with the proportions in the King's portrait
• the symbolism within the portraits is interesting

The main point to make is we are of course talking about PAINTED portraits of the individuals in their coronation robes. It's much more usual these days, for portraits to be photographic ones. Indeed the most famous one of Queen Elizabeth II was a photographic portrait by Cecil Beaton who produced a masterful image.

Different styles

The two different styles thing is easy to accommodate. 

I don't see why if you are being recorded for posterity you cannot choose to have a portrait by somebody whose style you like - and hence you will like the portrait even if other people are not big fans. I do hope it was the King's choice and not the Palace's.

So the King's portrait is by Peter Kuhfeld (RP website) and Camilla's is by Paul S. Benney (website).

I'll be honest, Peter Kuhfeld is not one of various members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters that I admire. He definitely merits membership and the King obviously likes him and that, to be honest, is probably what matters most. For me there is a tinge of soft focus and romanticism about him which I'm not a huge fan of.

Coronation Portrait of King Charles III

I like Paul Benney's portrait of Camilla better from a distance. I thought it was going to be one of those very realistic ones whereas in fact it's actually quite painterly as you get up close. However for some reason, while interesting that it is, it somehow disappointed me.

I'm in two minds about the background which somehow doesn't seem to be able to make its mind up how it is being lit.

He has however got in all the symbolic references to flowers and certain personal items. (see below for more)

Coronation Portrait of Queen Camilla

Proportions

The main thing for me is that the King's portrait actually looks like it was painted in stages and at different times. That's because I'm actually sure his head is too large. I know all the sayings about "heavy is the head that wears the crown" but this is taking it too far.

King Charles III and crown - close up

By way of contrast, the Queen appears to be perfectly in proportion. Absolutely nothing jars.

Symbolism

Imperial State Crown - as used for "everyday wear" eg to state opening of Parliament

There's something quite symbolic about having the crown off to one side I think. Even more interesting is that it is the Imperial State Crown - and NOT the St. Edward's Crown - which is the one actually used to crown him and every other monarch since the 13th century.

Based on the design of Queen Victoria's Crown of 1838, which had fallen into disrepair, it was made in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI. The crown remains in use today at coronations and State Openings of Parliament. It is adorned with 3,170 precious stones, including the 317-carat (63 g) Cullinan II diamond, St Edward's Sapphire, the Stuart Sapphire, and the Black Prince's Ruby (a large red spinel).

The Imperial State Crown is the one used on the day for all other aspects of the overall ceremony and appearances in front of the public. It's not as heavy as the extremely heavy St Edward's crown.

At this point I went off to look at the Coronation Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (see below) and found that she too had the Imperial State Crown on a table beside her. So obviously they don't allow the one used to do the crowning out for Coronation Portraits.

So - this is something monarchs do - to avoid the crown giving them major head and neck ache because it's not something you want to wear - unless temporarily to have your photograph taken - as in the Cecil Beaton photo.

Rescue dog embroidered into coronation robe

The symbolism in Camilla's portrait relates to the teeny tiny portraits of her two rescue dogs - Bluebell and Beth - which were sewn into her dress, one of which can be seen in the portrait. I love this - it makes her much more "down to earth" and relateable to want to do something like this.  

However, I think the artist was less than enthusisastic as he's made the dog much smaller than it is in reality. The above link has a clear view of the the lower part of the dress - and reveals they were two rather large doggies on that dress!

Compare to the Coronation Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II

By way of comparison, this is the Coronation Portrait of Her Majesty The Queen, 1953 by an artist I have never ever heard of. This is very much more 'romantic realism' in the sense it's a lot more precise about the Queen and the dress she was wearing. Interestingly she too had the crown on a side table 

Queen Elizabeth II in Coronation Robes
by Herbert James Gunn

Interestingly, Herbert James Gunn started out as a landscape painter before getting into portrait painting. He also painted  Conversation Piece at the Royal Lodge, Windsor - which I have always liked a lot - which was commissioned by the trustees of the National Portrait Gallery in 1950. I think she made a good choice.

This portrait was exhibited to the public by its inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, 1954. Of course with tickets to the Summer Exhibition costing as much as they do, I'm sure the exhibition at the National Gallery this time around was an easy conclusion to arrive at!!

Queen Elizabeth II on Coronation Day - photograph by Cecil Beaton

See my previous post Review: 'The Queen - Art and Image' at the NPG about the 2012 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery - which is where I saw the Beaton photo for the first time.

The King's Tour Artists

Their RoyalHighnesses on North Seymour Island, 2009 by Richard Foster

© Richard Foster. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust

What you also get in the Throne Room is an exhibition about The King's Tour Artists and The Art of Royal Travel - Journeys with The King which is included as part of the Tour cost.

This is the official comment about what it comprises

This summer, visitors to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace will see a special exhibition, The King’s Tour Artists, featuring over 70 works of art from His Majesty’s own collection, many on public display for the first time.

In the spring of 1985, the then Prince of Wales invited, at his own expense, John Ward to join a royal visit to Italy as the official tour artist, with the brief to draw or paint whatever inspired him. For the past 40 years, official tour artists have been personally selected by The King to accompany him on royal overseas tours with the brief remaining largely unchanged throughout. Forty-two artists to have undertaken this role, who collectively have visited 95 countries during 69 tours, will be represented in the exhibition.

The works on display in the Palace’s Ballroom, chosen from a selection made by The King, will provide glimpses of life on a royal tour, capturing the tone, colours and atmosphere in ways that differ from a photographic record.

The images I've seen suggest it could be an interesting exhibition.