View my previous blog here: http://bazzablog-uk.blogspot.com

I reply to all comments except spam, no matter how old!

Please ignore any email address displayed here! My email is shamp123 AT sky.com


Friday 13 June 2014

Painting of the Month (46) June 2014: Christian Furr

Queen Elizabeth II. 1995
When he painting this picture of Queen Elizabeth, Christian Furr was the youngest artist ever to have painted her. She was 69 years old and he was a mere 28 year old. The work, commissioned by The Royal Overseas League, hangs in their headquarters in St James, London. Royal portraits
historically told so many stories beyond what the paint on the surface showed. Attributes of power and wealth sent a clear message to the viewer but I really like this picture very much because of the humanity on show.
The Queen looks like she is having to suppress a grin and, correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the artist captured a twinkle in her eye? She choose Furr herself to paint this portrait.
Furr was born in The Wirral, Cheshire, England in 1966 and his art usually looks more like these works:




22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hot from the desk of the appalling, yet fabulous, Sir Tom Eagerly:
Good Lord Bazza! Does Her Majesty know about this Blog? You could be sent to the Tower of London for this outrage. Next time I see Auntie Liz I will put in a word of mitigation for you but I can promise nothing.
Now, where's my Scotch? Cheers. old boy!

bazza said...

Sir Tom, you are an old rascal, not to mention an inebriate!

Unknown said...

Now that's a 'real' artist. Extraordinary. Especially the two paintings below the Queen.

Enjoy your weekend, Bazza :)

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

That picture of Queen Elizabeth was painted almost 20 years ago and except for being a little bit bent over, she has not changed much. She has her mother's genes and, quite possibly, will outlive Charles.

bazza said...

Hi Wendy. Thanks to you too!
I think the artist and his portrait are very 'real'.

bazza said...

Hi Arleen. Yes and that would irritate Charles tremendously (that is if one can be irritated post mortem!)

All Consuming said...

I think they're all...erm...awful to be honest, hahaha, it wouldn't do for us to all think the same though, and so far as pictures of the Queen go generally, he's done a good job.

bazza said...

AC: So you wouldn't want the Queen's portrait hanging on your wall? You know painting a portrait of the Queen is rather like making love to beautiful woman; first you take.....oh well, this Blog is far too classy to go down that road!

All Consuming said...

Hahahaha, you need to make that your new catchphrase, you really do, it suits you sir :P

No, I wouldn't want Queeny on the wall, but ma would. Ma has framed pictures of Princess Diana next to the ones of me and my sister. I get my sanity from Pa *falls about.

David said...

Hi bazza,
That certainly is a splendid picture of HRH. I particularly enjoy, like yourself, the wry little smile she has on her face. It's almost like she's about to make some wry quip, like "get off my land, peasant!"
Seriously, though, bazza, these aren't my favourite of the paintings you've displayed, which perhaps has something to do with me not being much of a royalist!
Very Best Wishes,
David.

bazza said...

AC. :-D

bazza said...

Hi David. Well, I think I agree with you. I'm nor particularly a Royalist - I just rather like this painting. I think it's very clever and a bit cheeky!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Bazza - interesting to think it was done 19 years ago ... but she does have a twinkle in her eye doesn't she .. and I guess they had good rapport, if she had selected him to paint her ..

I rather like it .. but I'm a monarchist at heart ... and she does keep going as too her Duke ..

Cheers Hilary

bazza said...

Hello Hillary. I have only known this Queen, whom I think is wonderful. However, I really don't know if I would be a monarchist if someone less fab were on the throne!

John said...

Hi Bazza,
Not sure if I would enjoy seeing Her Maj as the artist normally paints, to be honest! I have heard that the Queen has a sense of humour, so maybe he had just told her a joke?!
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

loverofwords said...

I think the Queen is more "with it" than we suspect. And having ones portrait painted is daunting. I like the artist's technique--brushy and loose.

bazza said...

I think 'brushy' is a brilliant word that you just invented! But it does the job OK.

bazza said...

John: I think the Queen definitely has a sense of humour. And, as the lady above says, is quite 'with it'!

klahanie said...

I wonder if the Queen was amused when she got painted? I can imagine the poor woman covered in drip-dry paint. I second that emulsion.

Furr sure, he did a fine portrait. What next, Rolf Harris painting her?

Good day to you, sir.

Gary and hello Sir Tom, you scoundrel!

bazza said...

Hi Gary. Very witty.
We know that Sir Tom is a big fan of Rolf Harris's art work and, of course, he did paint her!

Sherry Ellis said...

That's a very nice painting of the queen. I'd have to agree that it does look like he captured the twinkle in her eye.

bazza said...

Hi Sherry. In the end we don't know if the artist saw the twinkle or just invented it. I believe it's the former!