Charles III already has his first official portrait as monarch of the United Kingdom. It is a work by artist Jonathan Yeo, who illustrates him in shades of red and dressed in the uniform of the Welsh Guards, with which he was appointed colonel in 1975, according to an official statement and the artist’s website.
The king appears in the center of the painting, eight feet tall and without a distinguishable background, in which he is only accompanied by a butterfly, which, according to Yeo, symbolizes both his support for environmental causes and his personal transformation. .
“Much like the butterfly I painted flying over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the role of the sitter in our public life has changed,” explains the artist.
However, the work has not completely convinced social media users, who do not understand the tone chosen by the artist. And that has generated hundreds of comments on X (formerly Twitter).
“The first official portrait of the king. Are you kidding? “He was he coming out of the fires of hell at that moment?!” comments a user of this social network. “It looks like Diana had painted it,” says another, referring to the late Princess of Wales.
The most movie-loving users have not been able to find similarities with some films. “Carrie from England,” says another, in reference to the well-known American horror film.
However, others defend Yeo’s choice: “The portrait of King Charles III is controversial because of the color, but red can symbolize bravery, love, passion, strength and power. Believe me, it is not a mistake, they thought about it very well.”
Beyond opinions, the painting will remain on display from this Thursday until June 14 at the Philip Mold art gallery in London, before being definitively transferred to the walls of the Drapers’ Hall building, in the city’s financial district.