The portrait artist referenced ‘exiled princes and princesses of the past that lurk in the background’ as inspirations behind his Sussex paintings
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been portrayed as historical British royal figures in a series of new works by a Welsh portrait artist.
Dan Llywelyn Hall, from Barry in South Wales, had risen to fame when he was commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union to create a portrait of Elizabeth II – making him the youngest artist, at 32, to paint the late Queen – in 2012.
In the 12 years since, he’s painted actual subjects including Prince William, the Queen’s funeral, King Charles III’s Coronation procession and Nigel Farage.
But now, Llywelyn Hall has produced 10 new portraits inspired by royalty throughout history for the 150th anniversary of the Society of Antiquaries – which will go on display at an exhibition at Burlington House on Piccadilly in London.
Dan Llywelyn Hall painted the late Queen in 2012
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The painter’s two most cutting portraits focus on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – who are depicted respectively as Bonnie Prince Charlie and Dame Elizabeth Grey, Queen of England by marriage to King Edward IV.
He said: “The Royal Family is possibly the most enthralling longest-running drama in history, the inspiration of theatre, books and every art form.
“It seemed that these figures caught on the knife edge of public opinion were ideal for drawing comparisons from distant monarchs – like the exiled princes and princesses of the past that lurk in the background but are still irrevocably tied to the job.
“We can’t help ourselves and wonder whatever next?”
The painter drew inspiration from the “exiled princes and princesses of the past that lurk in the background”
Llywelyn Hall, talking about Meghan’s portrait, called Returning White Queen, said: “I thought putting Meghan in the role of the White Queen, who was a Queen Consort and possibly the most influential ‘outsider’ in royal history, might have a fine irony to it and not necessarily beyond the realms of reality.”
While on his Harry headshot, a piece entitled Spectre Of The Bonny Prince, he said: “I have entered the story before he met Meghan – the young party-goer with his future very much in the balance, a bit like the Bonnie Prince I have likened him to.”
More generally, and reflecting on his previous and latest pieces of royal art, the artist said said: “I see the subject of royalty [as] utterly irresistible and rich succour for art.
“The funeral piece and the subsequent King’s Coronation piece are part of that lineage and my part in interpreting our times.”
Nigel Farage had too posed for Dan Llywelyn Hall in 2020
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He’s also painted Barbara Windsor in a portrait called An East End Girl
He acknowledged there is now a large amount of photography of the Royal Family but said a painting can have “greater authenticity”.
Among his other subjects? One Nigel Farage, who sat for him some five years ago for his portrait, entitled Mr Brexit, and Dame Barbara Windsor, who featured in another work called An East End Girl.
While other works in his contributions to the Society of Antiquaries’s exhibition include portraits of Mary I, Mary of Austria, Henry VI, and Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan, who ruled from 927 until his death in 939.
He has also included Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, known as Llywelyn the Last, one of the most powerful princes of Gwynedd.
Llywelyn Hall said: “There are virtually zero depictions, painted or otherwise, of Welsh nobility – and this was as frustrating as liberating.”
