Queen Elizabeth II by Annie Leibovitz
July 12, 2007I know yesterday was Wordless Wednesday but I found a couple of photos today that leave me speechless. They come from Et Cetera: Publick and Private Curiosities:
The Official Portrait of Queen Elizabeth
So what do YOU think of these pictures? Let me know in a comment or an e-mail.
maryt
THE QUEEN SEATED IS FANTASTIC. IT IS SO EDWARDIAN EVEN IF ANNIE DID NOT ATTEND IT TO BE. THE FIRST ONE IN THE BLUE CAPE IS UNINSPIRED.
But Daniel isn’t the the first one in the blue cape eerie or haunting…? Thanks for commenting BTW.
I am not a fan of any royalty … and yes, I did think that the first picture is a bit scary!!!
Thanks for visiting my Wordless Wednesday and leaving such a sweet comment.
Have a great weekend!
I actually prefer the first picture. I think it’s the background that pulls me in and gives the Queen such a foreboding look. Also, my monitor here at work must be wonky…her cape looks pitch black to me.
I thought in the second picture the queen mother was portraited and not Elizabeth 11
renate, both pictures are of Elizabeth II. Actually the 2nd picture is the official portrait!
stickynote, I think the first photo is , yes, foreboding and looks like an 18th century portrait of, say, George Washington, no? The cape is very black. Are you the stickynote who comments on The Rut?
Addie, thanks for visiting my post, drop by often. I’ll keep in touch with you.
The top pic made me think at once of the dark days of WWII that she lived, and now the dark clouds of terrorism that hover over the Brits. But the second one seems like if should be the opening scene of an epic movie…
Thanks Deke, for your comment. I appreciate you’re visiting. How eleoquent you are!
Neither portrait appeals to me, I’m afraid. The Queen is happiest in a Barbour, with her dogs and family about her. I prefer to see her as herself, happy, rather than through some Hollywood glass, darkly.
I clicked on your link and found your oh so interesting blog. I commented there about your comment here. I enjoyed the movie “The Queen” and, to me, Helen Mirren looked just like her. It’s hard for me to understand how the Queens plays into the running of the country and where the PM comes in. But I must say right now you are very lucky that you DON”T have a president, particularly this president.
I loved London when I was there for only a few days. Marvelous city! Felt so much more romantic than NYC which is where I’m from.
who da hell is queen elizabeth
Are you kidding??
Does anyone know how to purchase a fine art print of either of these?
I googled prints by Annie Leibovitz and found no prints of Eliz II by her. There were prints of Eliz II by other artists.
maryt, in response to your question regarding the role of the Queen and the British Prime Minister: the Queen reigns (rather than rules) as a constitutional Monarch. You can find out more information at http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4675.asp
There is also a very interesting 5-part documentary series being screen on the BBC (part 4 is being aired in the UK tomorrow) if you have access to it called “Monarchy – The Royal Family At Work” which you might find useful.
BTW – glad to hear you liked London so much. I have been to NYC twice and think it is a great place.
Thanks very much, David, for the info and appreciative comments.
The picture in the cape, I liked. It’s part of tradition of painting older monarchs in a style that hints at their limited time on earth. Besides, HM gives so little away that this could even be a reflection of some darker part of herself.
Richard thanks for your comment. Comments from experts (British citizens) are greatly appreciated!
[...] is something I enjoy despite hearing a ton of bad comments about her. The second picture on this Link is one I really [...]
Both of these pictures are truly beautiful.
As for the comment of the ‘Black Cape’ image being uninspired, I think being a Canadian and raised to respect the English monarchy, I feel this image has perfectly caught the persona of the Queen through the eyes of the world today.
She appears aged, stern and mysterious, much like the Old World ways and traditions she represents. She is portrayed stiff and ridged with not an inch of skin showing below the neck. She commands respect. ……even if the rest of the world is asking “who da hell is queen elizabeth?”
Images like this can be read in so many ways, but I think Annie Leibovitz has got this one right as far as most (somewhat educated) people are concerned.
Jason, I doubt if there’s anyone in the world who doesn’t know who Queen Elizabeth II is…except for makaylah lancaster who I think is pulling our legs!
Both photos are spectacular. They look more like paintings than photographs. It reminds me of the work of Casper David Friedrich (German, 1774-1840). Friedrich was part of the German Romantic movement whose work presaged the Surrealists.
Dwight, thanks for your comment. I’ll look into Friedrich…
Firstly, I’m an artist. These are both excellent portraits. The standing portrait struck a chord with the oil portraits by Pietro Annigoni. The seated portrait has resonance with Vermeer, and yes, elements of the Edwardian era. The queen would have been unable to look out the window in the exact position portrayed. Masterful compositions in the difficult square format.
These are both beautiful images – but then I am partial to Annie Liebowitz’ work. There is another version of the photo of the Queen seated (see website: http://planetpooks.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/leibovitz460.jpg) that is in rectangular format rather than square format. I prefer it mainly due to the fact that in the cropping shown above the balance of the photo with the Queen seated seems to be thrown off by how close she is to the edge of the frame; the elements in the lefthand side of the frame are rather large in proportion to the Queen and my eyes constantly wander to the left in the square version.
love the shot of her sitting. the mood, the lighting, the interior – she is so regal. i also like the grey sky outside so melancholic
jd
I am looking for the portrait of the Queen done by Canadian Portraitist, Cyril Leeper ? Would you happen to know where I can see it?
I love both the ones you have shown here and especially the one with the cape. It really holds my eyes with her eyes.
Thanks
CC
If you liked these pictures and you haven’t already done so, i’d highly recommend that you go and see Annie Leibovitz’s collection at the National Portrait Gallery in London (until February 2009). Like you all I really enjoy these new pictures of the Queen but having now seen the originals, the internet really doesnt do them any justice at all! If anyone knows where i can get copies of these (postcard size or otherwise) please let me know.
Jenni, I’d love to go to the National Portrait Gallery in London but I don’t think I’ll get there any time soon… Thanks for your comment.
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