Jonathan Yeo, the artist commissioned to create King Charles’ portrait, has unveiled startling revelations about his experience while painting the monarch.
The unveiling of this significant painting, the first official portrait of Charles since his coronation, took place at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, May 14.
Yeo disclosed that he suffered a heart attack before completing the “fiery red” painting of the King.
Commissioned in 2020 to commemorate the then-Prince of Wales’s 50 years with The Drapers’ Company, Yeo conducted four sittings over several years, beginning in June 2021.
During the painting process, Yeo experienced a heart attack in March of the previous year. He described feeling a “weird flushing feeling” before pain spread to his arms.
Despite initially resisting calling for help, he eventually collapsed and was assisted by paramedics.
Reflecting on the incident, Yeo described an out-of-body experience and a sense of having unfinished business, which compelled him to return to his body and continue living.
He speculated that the color choice for the portrait, predominantly red, may have been influenced by his medical emergency, though he was not consciously aware of it at the time.
Despite his health scare, Yeo expressed admiration for King Charles, describing him as a caring and thoughtful person.
He admitted to only briefly discussing the monarch’s illness during their interactions.
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Interestingly, Yeo revealed that he was unaware of the King’s cancer diagnosis during the final sitting for the portrait in November 2023.
He noted that the physical toll of cancer treatment often becomes more apparent towards the end, suggesting that any signs of illness may not have been evident during their sessions.
Yeo’s revelations add a layer of complexity to the creation of King Charles’ portrait, highlighting the artist’s personal journey alongside the depiction of royal majesty.
