Artist Jonathan Yeo Revels in the Viral Wave of King Charles III's Memes

Artist Jonathan Yeo and King Charles III

Artist Jonathan Yeo and King Charles III stand in front of the portrait at Buckingham Palace on May 14, 2024 in London. Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Artist Jonathan Yeo is thrilled by the mixed response to his official portrait of King Charles III.

Yeo, who is 53 years old, revealed the predominantly red portrait at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, May 14. This is the first official portrait of Charles since his coronation, and it has caused quite a stir online. Both art critics and social media users are split on their opinions of the piece, particularly the bold choice of colors used.

Yeo's teenage daughter has been keeping him updated on the online conspiracy theories surrounding his bold choice in painting. She eagerly showed him the wild theories circulating on TikTok, including claims that he is a Satanist and part of the Illuminati. According to The Sunday Times interview on May 19, Yeo's daughter found amusement in the conspiracies, making it the "best day of her life."

The portrait of Charles III in his Welsh Guards uniform, adorned with military medals and a monarch butterfly hovering over his shoulder, is dominated by a striking layer of red paint. Yeo's intention behind the use of red was to divert viewers' attention from the bright red uniform of the Guards, as he explained in a previous statement.

Yeo took to Instagram to express his amazement at the discussions surrounding his paintings. He mentioned how comforting it is to see that a painted portrait can still generate a lot of conversations in a time where images are everywhere. He also playfully invited those who have not shared their unique interpretations to do so in the comments, with the chance to win a copy of The Da Vinci Code.

Artist Jonathan Yeo and King Charles III portrait

Artist Jonathan Yeo and his portrait of King Charles III. Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Yeo mentioned that there might have been reasons behind using a lot of red when painting the king. He mentioned that the king had a heart attack during the three-year painting process. Yeo added that he didn't intentionally choose the color red for any specific reason.

"It was simply because I liked the color," he explained.

Yeo is no stranger to the attention that comes with painting a royal portrait. His first commission in 2008 was to paint Prince Philip, and since then he has developed a close relationship with the royal family. He has painted Queen Camilla in 2014 and most recently completed a portrait of Charles. Despite the mixed reactions to his work, Yeo remains unfazed.

In an interview with the Boston Globe on Friday, May 17, Yeo shared that the feedback from the public did not bother him. What truly mattered was the reaction of his most important critic, Queen Camilla. When she saw the portrait and smiled immediately, Yeo felt relieved. As he put it, "When [Camilla] looked at it and smiled straight away, I thought, 'OK, phew! That's the important one.'"

Editor's P/S:

Jonathan Yeo's bold and unconventional portrait of King Charles III has sparked a flurry of reactions, both positive and negative. While some appreciate Yeo's artistic vision and the symbolic significance behind the use of red, others have criticized the portrait's unconventional style and the artist's decision to depict the king in a non-traditional way. The portrait has become a subject of intense debate and discussion, highlighting the subjective nature of art and the power of a single image to evoke a wide range of emotions.

Yeo's decision to use a vibrant red background and depict the king in a non-traditional setting has generated controversy. Some view the portrait as a refreshing departure from conventional royal portraits, while others see it as disrespectful and inaccurate. The artist's explanation that the use of red was intended to draw attention away from the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards has been met with skepticism by some critics. However, the portrait's ability to generate such strong reactions is a testament to its impact and the artist's skill in provoking thought and discussion.