Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Pietro Annigoni portrait)

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Pietro Annigoni, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 1957 Prince Philip, Pietro Annigoni (1).jpg
Pietro Annigoni, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 1957

Pietro Annigoni completed a portrait of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh by 1957. He had previously completed portraits of other members of the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. [1] [2] His portrait of Philip depicts him wearing the robes of the Order of the Thistle. [3] Annigoni painted the portrait for the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. [4] It was exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition of 1957 and subsequently hung opposite Annigoni's 1955 portrait of Elizabeth II at the Fishmongers' Hall but then moved to the landing as Philip reportedly did not like it. [5] [4] [6] After the portrait went on display at the exhibition, Time wrote that the public was "stewing and snarling" about it, with critics commenting that the portrait makes him look "cold, aloof, almost arrogant." [7] [8] Annigoni responded by stating:" I painted him as I saw him. During the sitting he was severe; he showed a strong will, and he was definitely not a man of society." [7]

In 1972, he completed a circular drawing of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh facing each other against a background of Windsor Castle to mark their silver wedding anniversary. The drawing was commissioned by the Library of Imperial History to be etched on commemorative silver and gold plates. Annigoni based the drawing on earlier sketches he had completed and the most recent official portraits which were sent to him. [9]

See also

References

  1. "News Release: Annigoni's great 1950s painting of the Queen goes on show for the first time in 26 years in Diamond Jubilee Exhibition". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  2. "Pietro Annigoni: Princess Margaret". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  3. Ingalls, Leonard (4 May 1957). "Churchill Is 'Very Annoyed' by New Portrait; Many Others Dislike Painting Shown by Royal Academy". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 Somers Cocks, Anna (1 February 2012). "A true icon: Pietro Annigoni's 1955 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II". The Art Newspaper . Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  5. "The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts 1957 - Page 27". Royal Academy of Arts . Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  6. "Preview of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition". Keystone Press. 31 December 1956. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  7. 1 2 "People, May 20, 1957". Time. 20 May 1957. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  8. "Prince Philip's portrait, painted by Pietro Annigoni, caused a stir in London". The Australian Women's Weekly . 17 April 1957. Retrieved 11 August 2025 via Trove.
  9. "New royal portrait by Annigoni shows Queen and Duke in unflattering light" . The Times. No. 58564. 28 August 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 11 August 2025 via The Times Digital Archive.