Here’s what’s known about Pietro Annigoni and his portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, with emphasis on recent context.
Direct answer
- Pietro Annigoni painted Queen Elizabeth II in 1954–1955 (early iconic royal portrait) and again in 1969, with a later circle drawing in 1972 for the Queen and Prince Philip’s silver wedding; these works are frequently discussed in art histories and royal portrait retrospectives. [sources below]
Context and highlights
- The 1955 full-portrait commission by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers brought Annigoni immediate fame in Britain and solidified a long-running relationship with the Queen and the Royal Household; the painting became one of the most recognizable images of the Queen in the modern era.[7][8]
- Annigoni’s approach for Elizabeth II is noted for its Renaissance-influenced realism and formal, monarchic tone, contrasted with the more contemporary stylistic trends of his time. This helped differentiate his Queen Elizabeth II portrait within official and public spheres.[8]
- The National Portrait Gallery in London acquired a separate portrait by Annigoni in 1969, which, together with the 1955 painting, has been featured in exhibitions such as The Queen: Art and Image (2012) to mark the Diamond Jubilee.[1]
Recent discussion and accessibility
- Retrospectives and articles continue to discuss Annigoni’s Queen Elizabeth II portraits as remarkable historical artifacts, highlighting their sitters, commissions, and the ceremonial context in which they were produced.[3][7]
If you’d like, I can pull specific quotes from these sources or build a short timeline with the key dates and exhibitions. I can also provide image references or high-level comparisons to other royal portraits from the era.
Cited sources
- Pietro Annigoni's portraits of Elizabeth II, National Portrait Gallery exhibitions and related history[1]
- When Pietro Annigoni painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of England, and related background[3]
- A true icon: Pietro Annigoni's 1955 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II[7]
- Pietro Annigoni - Wikipedia overview of his Elizabeth II portraits[8]
Sources
Since we just made the decision to spend five days in London in November, I knew my Sunday Painting this week had to have a British connection. I love the National Portrait Gallery and I have alway…
hogglestock.comAnnigoni's work was highly appreciated by the royal family, and in 1969, the painter was called once again to paint a portrait of the Queen, this time represented in a very different style and wearing the scarlet robe of the Order of the British Empire. The one executed in 1954, however, remains
www.arteleonardo.comOil on panel; 198.1 x 177.8 cm. Annigoni was born in Milan. He studied at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Florence, taking classes in painting, sculpture and engraving. Basing his style on the Italian old masters he studied their techniques, learning the art of 'oil tempera' under the Russian painter, Nikolai Lokoff. Initially Annigoni's success was limited to Italy where his sharply evocative landscapes were very popular. In 1947 along with Gregory Sciltian, the brothers Antonio and Xavier...
www.flickr.comWhen Pietro Annigoni was asked to portray Queen Elizabeth II of England, he initially thought it was a joke. But it was all true. The queen posed 16 times, and Annigoni returned one of her most famous images.
www.finestresullarte.infoThe story of the royal portrait that has most deeply embedded itself in British consciousness and was adopted all over the Commonwealth
www.theartnewspaper.com