King Charles portrait painter unveils new work of Sir David Attenborough
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Loading... - Hayes Oakely
- 27 Jun 2024
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Jonathan Yeo, renowned for painting King Charles' first official portrait after his coronation, has now revealed his latest work
Jonathan Yeo, renowned for painting King Charles' first official portrait after his coronation, has now revealed his latest work—a portrait of the beloved British broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. This new piece was unveiled by the Royal Society, commemorating Sir David’s four decades as a fellow.
Known for his vivid use of color, Yeo painted King Charles in shades of red, while Sir David's portrait features hues of green.
This new artwork will be on display at the Royal Society from July 2nd to July 7th as part of the Summer Science Exhibition.
Sir David Attenborough, now 98, expressed his gratitude, stating, "Being elected a fellow of the Royal Society over 40 years ago was a tremendous honor, and having my portrait painted by Jonathan Yeo for the society's important collection is extraordinary. Observing and sharing the natural world’s complexity, beauty, and fragility has been a great privilege, made possible by the dedicated work of natural history filmmakers and scientists."
The private unveiling took place on Tuesday. Yeo, who has previously painted notable figures such as Idris Elba, Nicole Kidman, Malala Yousafzai, and former prime ministers Lord David Cameron and Sir Tony Blair, described Sir David as a "personal inspiration." He added, "It’s hard to imagine anyone who has done more to engage and inspire all generations about the wonders of the natural world than Sir David. His lifetime of work in communicating and sharing the natural world's importance has been a service to all humanity. It has been a thrill and a privilege to spend time with someone whose wisdom is so deep and broad, and who is also brilliant and entertaining company."
Yeo’s new oil painting, measuring 130cm by 100cm, celebrates Sir David’s career and his efforts to raise awareness about climate change and biodiversity. Keith Moore, Head of Library and Archives at the Royal Society, expressed his excitement, stating, "We’re thrilled to have this portrait of Sir David as part of our collections. The Royal Society has many portraits of great scientists, including over 300 original works of art and around 10,000 engravings and photographs. While we have images of scientific luminaries like Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Dorothy Hodgkin, Sir David’s impact on explaining the ideas behind great science and how they affect our world is unparalleled. He’s truly one of a kind."
