Portrait of King Charles.Photo: The Illustrated Coronation Edition
The first official portrait ofKing Charleshas been unveiled in London.
While the king did not sit for the portrait, the artist was able to study him at aBuckingham Palace receptionon February 17, which was held in support of global biodiversity.
Artist Alastair Barford with his portrait of King Charles.The Illustrated Coronation Edition
Opening up about painting the portrait for the cover of the magazine’s coronation edition, Barford called the commission a “terrifying honor”.
“It’s a great responsibility to create a portrait of someone who means so much to so many people,” he told the outlet. “I also felt disbelief and, until I physically stood near The King in Buckingham Palace, I wasn’t entirely convinced the commission would materialize.”
“The King was wearing a suit rather than robes of State, so I wanted this to be a more personal, intimate portrait of the man,” he continued. “I wished to capture his warmth and sensitivity, the empathy that came across in his interactions with the people he met. It was important that I captured a sympathetic expression.”
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
The Illustrated Coronation Edition.The Illustrated Coronation Edition
Charles is also a painterhimself. In Feb. 2022, the then Prince of Wales shared seventy-nine of his watercolor paintings at The Garrison Chapel in London, marking the first full exhibition of his work, which feature outdoor scenes created in Scotland, France, Africa and more.
Charles revealed in the exhibit’s display panel that he started painting after finding photography, a passion of his mother, “less than satisfying.”
“Quite simply, I experienced an overwhelming urge to express what I saw through the medium of watercolor and to convey that almost’inner' sense of texture, which is impossible to achieve via photography,” he said, according toThe Scotsman.
Prince Charles painting.Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images
“You become increasingly aware of things that may have escaped your attention previously – things like the quality of light and shade, of tone and texture and of the shape of buildings in relation to the landscape,” he said. “It all requires the most intense concentration and, consequently, is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic exercises I know.”
Charles continued, “In fact, in my case, I find it transports me into another dimension which, quite literally, refreshes parts of the soul which other activities can’t reach.”
source: people.com
