Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – An 80th Birthday Portrait
| Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – An 80th Birthday Portrait | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Artist | Rolf Harris |
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Painting |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Subject | Elizabeth II |
| Owner | Unknown |
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – An 80th Birthday Portrait is a 2005 oil painting of Queen Elizabeth II by Rolf Harris, commissioned by the BBC for the Queen's 80th birthday. It was unveiled at the Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace and publicly displayed there from 2005 to 2006. A BBC television special about its creation, The Queen, by Rolf, was broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2006. The painting was voted the second-most-favoured portrait of the Queen by the British public, but critically derided.
Rolf Harris was a popular entertainer on British TV, and was the presenter of Rolf on Art, a BBC series on artists. He took two months to complete the portrait; two sittings were held at Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2005, filmed by the BBC; the rest of the painting was completed at Harris' own art studio. The portrait, measuring 100 by 50 centimetres (39 in × 20 in), is in oil of the Queen wearing a turquoise dress. After he completed the portrait Harris' reputation as an artist, and the value of his works increased, and he was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). The award was annulled following his conviction for indecent assault and sexual offences, and his art work became worthless. The ownership and current location of the portrait is unknown.
The painting was commissioned by the BBC, and subsequently unveiled at the Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace and publicly displayed there from 20 December 2005 to 11 June 2006. A BBC television special about its creation, The Queen, by Rolf, was broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2006.
Harris had been a popular entertainer and artist for several decades in Britain at the time the portrait was commissioned, and was the presenter of Rolf on Art, a series of television programmes on notable artists of the past. Harris subsequently said of the Queen that she was "an incredible lady and it was a real pleasure to paint her. The portrait I've created aims to capture the Queen's warm and friendly personality, rather than being a very formal portrait focusing more on her official status." Harris explained to The Daily Telegraph the following year: "I was as nervous as anything. I was in a panic".
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