Anger at ‘ awful’ new portrait of grim- faced Queen
writes art expert Richard Fitzwilliams.
The best that can be said of this new limp and feeble image of the Queen is that it is not as horrible as its predecessor.
The much criticised 2013 portrait, right, gave us a fearsome gargoyle – a monstrous image, an ogre to terrify children. Hall has said the new image, above, is gentler. In fact the Queen’s expression is grim.
There is no skill in the composition. It is painfully clumsy, although thankfully the colours are toned down in the new work. Both portraits are total disasters. AN ARTIST whose portrait of the Queen was compared to a Spitting Image puppet faced fresh criticism today after unveiling a controversial new painting.
Dan Llywelyn Hall, whose expressionist- style painting in 2013 prompted some critics to say he had made her look like a drag queen, has produced a new portrait for an exhibition in London of about 20 Great Britons.
The 35- year- old Welsh artist, who remained unmoved by negative reaction to his last portrait, claimed to be “relaxed” about the public and the art world’s view of his latest effort. That was perhaps just as well. Royal commentator Richard Fitz williams was worried about being sick after viewing the latest portrait. “It’s too awful,” he said.
Gentler
The artist claimed his new image was gentler than the last. His fi rst effort – a 5ft by 4ft canvas – showed the Queen sitting in an ornate chair with her hands in her lap and was commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union to mark the 60th anniversary of her Coronation.
The latest painting, produced from the same three- hour sitting at Windsor Castle, shows the Queen in the same position wearing the same outfi t but from a different angle.
Hall claimed criticism of his 2013 portrait “strengthened” him and said of his latest work: “In many cases it is a very different picture. It’s much more of a gentler one. She’s a bit more content with herself.”
Cardiff- born Hall said the Queen chatted “non stop” during the sitting. He declined to reveal details.
The Queen sported a bruise on her right leg yesterday when she visited Berkhamsted School, Hertfordshire, to mark its 475th anniversary.
Onlookers speculated about a possible injury while riding or if she had bumped into something. Buckingham Palace refused to comment.