North Seymour is a scrubby patch of land in the Pacific Ocean inhabited solely by the sea lions and iguanas that are endemic to the Galápagos. In 2009, the then-Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall stopped off on the island, which is roughly three times the size of Windsor Castle and its grounds, and gazed out at the endless blue beyond.
The moment was captured by the painter Richard Foster, who had joined the royal visit around Chile, Brazil, and Ecuador as its official tour artist. Foster depicts the couple standing before an outcrop of lava rocks with their backs turned to the viewer. The Duchess clutches a little white parasol, which, together with the work’s sketchy quality, is reminiscent of those Impressionist forays into the French countryside in the late 19th century.
Richard Foster, Their Royal Highnesses on North Seymour Island (2009). Photo: courtesy Royal Collection Trust.
(2009) is set to be exhibited at Buckingham Palace along with more than 70 works created by artists who have accompanied King Charles on international tours over the past four decades. “The King’s Tour Artists” will be on display in the ballroom from July 10 as the palace opens up its state rooms for summer visitors. The exhibition includes the work of 42 artists, with many of the works being shown to the public for the first time.
The tradition was born in 1985 when the then-Prince of Wales invited John Ward, a longtime royal favorite who had recently painted the christenings of Prince William and Prince Harry, to join his tour of Italy as its official artist. Ward’s brief was to draw or paint whatever he found inspiring, a duty, the Royal Collection Trust is keen to note, that was funded at the Prince’s own expense.
Ward boarded in Catania as the yacht was en route to Venice and produced a simple sketch from the stern of the vessel. It’s a tranquil scene, one organizers said captures a rare moment of rest, with the afterdeck cleared of people, the Royal Navy flag fluttering in the breeze, and seagulls hanging overhead.
John Ward, From the Afterdeck of HMY Britannia (1985). Photo: courtesy Royal Collection Trust.
“The freedom given to each artist to capture a personal impression of the countries visited has led to the formation of a rich and varied collection,” the show’s curator Kate Heard said in a statement. “Encompassing landscapes, figure studies, and still life subjects, these works are testament to His Majesty’s deep engagement with and encouragement of artists over the past four decades.”
King Charles views the role of official tour artist as providing valuable opportunities for both established and emerging artists to create a unique and concentrated body of work. Several have witnessed historic royal engagements. Susannah Fiennes, for instance, was present for the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. It was the last tour for the and Fiennes depicted the symbolic image of a pair of sailors lowering and raising the flag.
Susannah Fiennes, Two Yachtsmen on HMY Britannia (1997). Photo: courtesy Royal Collection Trust.
Other highlights include Mary Anne Aytoun Ellis’s towering painting of Kaieteur Falls in Guyana; Colin Watson’s Impressionist depiction of an abbot in Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan; and Phillip Butah’s portrayal of a Kenyan elephant sanctuary that King Charles visited in 2023. Butah recently provided a portrait of King Charles and Queen Camilla for British magazine .
Colin Watson, The Abbot, Todaiji Temple, Nara (2008). Photo: courtesy Royal Collection Trust.
The exhibition is accompanied by the publication, . It features more than 100 illustrations and details the stories behind the works.
“By inviting an artist to join a royal tour in 1985, King Charles started a tradition that has continued unbroken to the current day,” the book’s editor the Earl of Rosslyn said in a statement. “[The artists knew] they were working for someone in sympathy with the artistic craft, a patron of the arts and a passionate advocate for cultural life.”
Source: Exhibition - news.artnet.com
