Australia unveils The Queen 'in reflection' portrait
AUSTRALIA has unveiled an official portrait of the Queen which shows her in the Sacrarium of Westminster Abbey.
Painted by Australian-born artist Ralph Hermans, the ambitious and large-scale work measuring nine feet by 11 feet shows the Queen in a 'time of reflection', says the artist.
Entitled The Coronation Theatre, Westminster Abbey: A Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth !!, the work is on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
The portrait will be part of a new display celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
The artist, who is based in London, had a sitting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace on March 21, but the scene is an imagined one, set at night in Westminster Abbey.
Mr Heimans said: "Through the narrative of the portrait I wanted to produce a work of particular significance for the Diamond Jubilee.
Through the narrative of the portrait I wanted to produce a work of particular significance
"By representing the Queen as she reflects on this incredible milestone in her life, I wanted to explore the dynamic between her public role and the personal, emotional dimension."