LONDON (Reuters) – In his London studio, British artist Carne Griffiths adds the final touches in fluorescent pink to “Queen of Platinum”, a work depicting the young Queen Elizabeth shortly before her coronation nearly seven decades ago.
Griffiths, known for using tea, ink and alcohol in his work, is releasing 70 limited-edition prints — as well as their proofs — to mark the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee, one for each year of her historic reign.
Based on an original painting sold last year, each piece is made up of layers that include diamond dust and platinum foil.
“I thought that was a poignant moment to capture Her Majesty, as she was ascending the throne,” the artist told Reuters.
“And as I painted the work, I tried to imagine… what kind of things she would be contemplating at the beginning of her reign.”
Elizabeth, the longest-lived and currently the oldest monarch on the planet, became queen on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. Her coronation took place on June 2, 1953.
Four days of celebratory events will begin on June 2, and the 96-year-old queen is expected to attend several of them.
Priced at £1,550, each portrait is set to go on sale from June 4 on the West Contemporary Editions online platform, with £150 of each sale going to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian)
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