The Queen’s platinum jubilee will be celebrated in June by displaying the portraits of British queens from Mary I to Elizabeth II selected from private collections and these portraits are going to be displayed together for the first time.
The Armada portrait of Elizabeth I, commemorating Spain’s failed invasion of England in 1588, a rare contemporary painting of Mary I, and Andy Warhol’s 1985 richly colored image of the current monarch are among the highlights of the free exhibition on each of the seven queens regnant of Britain, which runs from May 28 to June 15 at the London auction house Sotheby’s.
The exhibitions are part of a jubilee arts festival organized by Sotheby’s, a jubilee pageant partner, in collaboration with luxury brand Aston Martin.
Speakers include actor Joanna Lumley, author Michael Morpurgo, and historian Tristram Hunt, in addition to music and performing arts activities. The sale will include a new painting of the Queen provided by Chris Levine, with all revenues going to the pageant.
Frances Christie, deputy head of Sotheby UK says: “The Queen has been at the forefront of Britain’s creativity throughout her reign – both as guardian of a world-class collection and as an inspiration for artists, designers, and others,”
“With our unique position at the helm of both art and luxury, Her Majesty will become the first British monarch to celebrate 70 years of service, providing the ideal opportunity for Sotheby’s to celebrate creativity in all its forms, including art, music, literature, food, fashion, and the performing arts.”
