PORTRAIT OF THE KING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19760, 10 April 1926, Page 11

PORTRAIT OF THE KING

SURPRISE PICTURE FOR ACADEMY. HIS MAJESTY GRANTED SPECIAL SITTINGS. (Pies» Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.! LONDON, April & (Received April 9, at 5.5 p.m.) It is revealed that the sunrise picture of this year’s Academy is a full-length portrait of* the King which was begun at the instigation of the London borough councils for the purpose of hanging in the Town Hall. The artist is Mr Richard Jack, who was not granted sittings, but the King loaned the necessary uniforms and decorations. Later such favourable reports reached the King that Mr Jack was being asked to bring his half-completed portrait to the palace. The King, who was most delighted, immediately offered to give sittings and went, accompanied by the Queen, to the artist’s studio at Earl’s Court. The King was so pleased with the progress of the picture that, in order that it might be hung at the Academy, he obtained special permission from the secretary to allow Mr Jack to continue his task after the date fixed for the cessation of work. It will be recollected that Mr Charles Sims’s portrait of the King was withdrawn from the Royal Academy in October of last yeax.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A sensation was caused in London art circles last October by the announcement that Charles Sims’s portrait cf the King was to be removed from the walls of the Royal Academy and sent to America for sale. The removal was the result of a wide divergence of critical opinion, some condemning and others defending the picture which Mr Sims withdrew voluntarily rather than allow the controversy to continue. In defending his work the artist stated that his idea was to make an accurate representation of the King, which had not been done for many years. He declared that most portraits showed his Majesty as a young man with a brown beard, though he was no longer young. Mr Sims said that the features exhibited qualities of kingship with the w r eight of responsibility of such a position. He contended that if he had painted the King with a smile it would have removed this dignity.