HM The Queen's Speech 2016 by Stephen B. Whatley
A new portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II following her 90th birthday by expressionist painter Stephen B. Whatley. The artist realised that there has not been, to his knowledge, a painting made of Her Majesty at The State Opening of Parliament; as she has done once a year for 63 years.
As with all his work Whatley sought to a deep essence of his subject and the painting was inspired by charcoal drawings and notes made watching the live BBC television broadcast of The Queen, wearing the Imperial State Crown, reading her address to Parliament on May 18; followed by notes made re-watching film footage.
A major contribution to his capturing Queen Elizabeth was the artist's memory of meeting and talking to the monarch in person in 2004, at a grand reception, at the Tower of London - for which Whatley was commissioned in 2000 to paint a series of 30 paintings, depicting the history of The Tower. He was touched by an aura of gentle humility in Her Majesty's presence.
Stephen B. Whatley's Tower of London commission is permanently reproduced outside London's Tower Hill Station, throughout Tower Hill Underpass, the main entrance portal to Her Majesty's Tower of London - a permanent art exhibit on show in London.
HM The Queen's Speech 2016 by Stephen B. Whatley
Oil on canvas,
30 x 24in/76 x 61cm
HM The Queen's Speech 2016 by Stephen B. Whatley
A new portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II following her 90th birthday by expressionist painter Stephen B. Whatley. The artist realised that there has not been, to his knowledge, a painting made of Her Majesty at The State Opening of Parliament; as she has done once a year for 63 years.
As with all his work Whatley sought to a deep essence of his subject and the painting was inspired by charcoal drawings and notes made watching the live BBC television broadcast of The Queen, wearing the Imperial State Crown, reading her address to Parliament on May 18; followed by notes made re-watching film footage.
A major contribution to his capturing Queen Elizabeth was the artist's memory of meeting and talking to the monarch in person in 2004, at a grand reception, at the Tower of London - for which Whatley was commissioned in 2000 to paint a series of 30 paintings, depicting the history of The Tower. He was touched by an aura of gentle humility in Her Majesty's presence.
Stephen B. Whatley's Tower of London commission is permanently reproduced outside London's Tower Hill Station, throughout Tower Hill Underpass, the main entrance portal to Her Majesty's Tower of London - a permanent art exhibit on show in London.
HM The Queen's Speech 2016 by Stephen B. Whatley
Oil on canvas,
30 x 24in/76 x 61cm