About Time: You Discovered Suzi Malin’s PortraitsBy Angelica Malin
When I see the massive portrait by Jonathan Yeo of King Charles, I am aware that his Majesty’s first comment on seeing the painting was to compliment the beautiful frame.
The print of my mother, Suzi Malin’s portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh which now hangs in the King’s palace was greeted with superlatives by King Charles who loved it and also loved her portrait of his mother ,the late queen.The original paintings are both done in tempera on gold leaf.
Copyright: Suzi Malin
Copyright: Suzi Malin
What is dramatic in all Suzi’s portraits is that wherever you stand before the painting the eyes of the sitter always engage with yours. Please see the expressiveness in the eyes of both the late Queen and Duke.As for Suzi’s handling of robes , note the detail of those of Elton John in the portrait which hangs in the NPG and was blown up to a massive 20ft high image in the entrance for its grand reopening last year.
It’s always interesting to see depictions by different artists and the hidden symbolism in their work. When my Mother was 23 she went to Iran where she was commissioned to paint a portrait of Queen Farah Diba’s mother for the Shah.
My mother saw a portrait similar to Johnathan Yeo’s portrait , hanging in the palace in Iran because the head and hands were painted and the rest was smudged. Some consider this a cop out and others enjoy abstraction in a figurative painting , much depends on the artist’s relationship with painting the intricacy of robes and if they are the artist’s “ speciality”.
Copyright: Suzi Malin
I would be intrigued one day to see my Mother’s depiction of King Charles in fabulously painted robes ,with expressive eyes which twinkle as they follow you round the room. As a lover of traditional portraits I’m hoping that Suzi will be the next artist to paint his portrait.
