REMOVED FROM ROYAL ACADEMY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19441, 29 October 1925, Page 8

REMOVED FROM ROYAL ACADEMY

THE KING’S PORTRAIT ART CIRCLES SURPRISED. LONDON, October 27. Art circles are surprised at annoucements that Mr Charles Sims’ portrait of the King has been removed from the Royal Academy and sent to America for sale. This is an echo of the wide divergence of opinion expressed when the picture was hung at the Royal Academy last year. Mr Sims replied to the criticism then to the effect 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 board, though he was no longer young. Mr Sims said that the features exhibited the qualities of kingship with the weight of the responsibility of such a position. He contended that if he had painted the King with a smile it would have removed bis dignity. Critics say that the removal of th? picture is the result of a divergence of opinion in the Academy Council. Some condemn and others defend the portrait, the latter pointing out that the only objection is that the legs are too thin. The president of the Academy says thjjit Mr Sims was not asked to withdraw the picture. He did so voluntarily rather than allow the controversy to continue. He points out in defence of Mr Sims that an artist pamung Royalty has no opportunity to demand as many sittings as in other cases.