Hockney says he did not offer to paint King Charles during royal visit
Renowned artist David Hockney has said he did not offer to paint King Charles when the monarch visited his London home on Monday because he doesn't know him well enough.
This is not the first time that Hockney has shied away from painting royalty. The 87-year-old also refused a number of offers to paint the late Queen Elizabeth II because he only paints people he knows.
Speaking in an interview with the Times, before his latest art show, Hockney said of the king's visit to his Marylebone home: 'He came on Monday for about an hour. But I didn't offer to paint him.'
Of Elizabeth II he said: 'It's difficult to do the majesty … I thought, she is a genuinely majestic figure, and I just couldn't see a way to do it.'
The Bradford-born artist said in the interview that his pictures were better if he knew the subject 'really well', and he criticised Lucian Freud's portrait of the late Queen. He said: 'When you look at the queen, her skin is absolutely marvellous. It's very beautiful skin. Well, he didn't get that at all.'
In the interview, Hockney explained that he had moved back to London from his former home in Normandy, France in 2023 because of 'intrusion', as 'people kept coming round'.
The 87-year-old painter's latest show, called David Hockney 25, will open in Paris at the Fondation Louis Vuitton art museum and cultural centre.
Hockney talked about the new paintings he had produced from his Marylebone home. One of his efforts, which he calls Play Within a Play Within a Play and Me with a Cigarette, is a pro-smoking message. 'I'm nearly 88 years old and I didn't think I'd be here. I'm still a smoker, but I'm surviving,' he said.
'I read in the newspaper the other day that lung cancer was going up and smoking was going down. Well, what did that tell me? It told me that it wasn't really smoking.'
The outspoken artist also remarked on his perceived rise of officiousness: 'People are getting very … bossy. There's an awful lot of bossy people about now. They're little Hitlers, aren't they? And there's lots of them. Bossy bossy boots.'
Sign up to Art Weekly
Your weekly art world round-up, sketching out all the biggest stories, scandals and exhibitions
after newsletter promotion
Hockney, who began working in the early 1950s, is best known for A Bigger Splash (1967), Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures) (1972), and Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1971).
Even though Hockney did not paint the late Queen, he did make a stained glass window for her named the Queen's Window, which was unveiled in Westminster Abbey in 2018.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Gwen John exhibition to open at National Museum Cardiff
Gwen John: Strange Beauties will launch at National Museum Cardiff on February 7, 2026, marking 150 years since the birth of the Haverfordwest-born painter. Dr Kath Davies, director of collections and research at Amgueddfa Cymru, said: "As an independent woman living and working as an artist in the early 20th century, Gwen John was a trailblazer. "Many of her drawings and studio works have never been exhibited before and this major new exhibition will be an opportunity to explore John's technical approach, processes, and the themes which influenced and inspired her." The exhibition is the first major retrospective of Gwen John's work in more than 40 years and will later tour internationally. It is organised by Amgueddfa Cymru in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, the Yale Center for British Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Star of iconic TV show spotted at popular Scots restaurant
Tommy Flanagan, who starred as Filip 'Chibs' Telford in Sons of Anarchy, dropped by Caprese Don Costanzo for a bite to eat SPECIAL GUEST Star of iconic TV show spotted at popular Scots restaurant Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE star of a legendary TV show has been spotted dining at a popular Glasgow restaurant. And it's not the first time the actor has dined at the eatery in recent times. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Sons of Anarchy star Tommy Flanagan returned to Glasgow's Caprese Don Costanzo Credit: CapreseDonCostanzo/Instagram 2 The Glasgow-born actor has appeared in several big-budget movies and TV shows Credit: Getty Tommy Flanagan, who starred as Filip 'Chibs' Telford in Sons of Anarchy, dropped by Caprese Don Costanzo for a bite to eat. It is the second time in less than a month that he has visited the Italian eatery on Woodside Crescent. Flanagan delighted the staff when he went there for a meal on May 25. And the veteran star, 59, was back for more Mediterranean treats last week. Sharing a picture on social media earlier, staff wrote: "Great to see Tommy Flanagan back in the restaurant last week." The beloved family-run Italian has hosted several high-profile faces in recent times. Rangers icons Graeme Souness and Ally McCoist, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, ex-Hoops goalie Joe Hart, and former Light Blues striker Antonio Čolak are among the famous faces who have visited. Flanagan, from Glasgow, made his acting breakthrough in the 1995 hit Braveheart. He has gone on to appear in a string of big-budget productions, including Face/Off, Gladiator, Alien vs. Predator, Sin City, Peaky Blinders, and Westworld. Flanagan grew up in Easterhouse, Glasgow, and is well-known for his facial scars. Corrie star Chris Fountain undergoes heart surgery as he shares video from hospital bed The Hollywood star was injured in a knife attack outside a nightclub when he worked as a DJ. Since leaving Scotland, he has lived in America with his wife and daughter.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
28 Years Later director Danny Boyle's rise from Bury to film visionary
Not many directors can convince a reigning monarch to appear in a comedy skit, but Elizabeth II was said to be "very amused" when invited by Danny Boyle to star in a James Bond sketch for the 2012 London Bury-born filmmaker will add the highly-anticipated 28 Years Later to a back catalogue that includes Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, as the zombie flick screens in cinemas this 68-year-old has always been proud of his hometown of Radcliffe, and fulfilled a promise to mention his local social club during his Academy Awards acceptance speech in family and friends gathered at St Mary's Catholic Social Club which his father used to run and where Boyle drank lemonade as a boy, to watch him on screen that year when Slumdog Millionaire scooped eight Oscars. The Indian-set movie, inspired by the TV quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, became a runaway global success despite a relatively small $15m it was the latest in a string of unconventional movies that had become unexpected mainstream commercial successes for recently told the Guardian newspaper: "I want to push the boat out, but take the popular audience with me." Boyle became enamoured by cinema at a young age, and graduated with a degree in English and Drama from Bangor University in later worked at the prestigious Royal Court in London, dubbed the "writers theatre", and directed productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company. A move into making TV dramas for the BBC in Northern Ireland and ITV's Inspector Morse came drew fame in the mid-1990s when he directed the dark movie comedy Shallow Grave about Edinburgh flatmates who find a large suitcase of money, which starred Christopher Eccleston and Ewan film's modern story telling and visual style was credited with breaking away from the traditional image of British cinema, which had been associated with period dramas. Boyle collaborated again with McGregor for Trainspotting with its gritty and humorous take on heroin addicts in the Scottish the pair fell out when Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the lead role for Boyle's 2000 movie The director has admitted "we didn't treat [McGregor] very well", while the latter said he had "felt like it was a badge on my sleeve: I am Danny Boyle's actor". They have since made up and reunited with the rest of the Trainspotting cast to make a sequel in 2017. Boyle was chosen to direct a hugely memorable opening ceremony at the 2012 Olympics – dubbed Isles of extravaganza drew more than 20m viewers in the UK, and celebrated British achievements in industry, culture and the then there was the viral moment when the Queen Elizabeth II appeared in a sketch with James Bond star Daniel Craig, where she had requested to utter the unforgettable words: "Good evening, Mr Bond." Boyle was later chosen to direct the most recent 007 film No Time To Die, but he pulled out months before the start of filming due to "creative differences". The filmmaker's risk-taking and creativity has won him not only fans among audiences but actors Comer, who appears in 28 Years Later, recently said to be "led by him and be on one of his sets is a proper dream".A follow-up to the 2002 film 28 Days Later, their new movie marks a return to horror for Boyle, who recently told the BBC he still found "something intangible but amazing about cinema". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
