Portait of Queen Elizabeth II by Pietro Annigoni
1950. Oil tempera on wood. 182.9 x 121.9 cms 72 x 47 ¾ ins. Public collection,
www.artrenewal.orgI don’t currently have live updates beyond my last training data, but I can share the latest well-documented context on Pietro Annigoni’s portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and where to find current coverage.
Direct answer
- Pietro Annigoni’s most famous portraits of Queen Elizabeth II were painted between 1954 and 1972, including a 1955 full-figure portrait for the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers and a notable 1969-1972 set for the National Portrait Gallery (London) [sources below].
Context and key points
- Commission and process
- Annigoni was commissioned in 1954 to paint Elizabeth II after being selected by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers; the queen sat for sittings in Buckingham Palace. The project helped elevate his profile in Britain [sources below].
- A major portrait from 1955 was among his early triumphs and contributed to his international reputation, with rights and distribution later tied to the paintings and reproductions [sources below].
- Notable works and exhibitions
- The 1955 Fishmongers portrait is commonly cited as the iconic image of the queen in mid-20th-century portraiture, widely reproduced and discussed in art history coverage [sources below].
- In 1969, Annigoni created another portrait for the National Portrait Gallery, and these works were later shown together in exhibitions such as The Queen: Art and Image (2012) to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee [sources below].
- In 1972, he produced a circular (tondo) drawing of the Queen with Prince Philip to mark their Silver Wedding, intended for commemorative plates; this piece is frequently noted for its formal, regal tone [sources below].
Where to read more (recent and detailed coverage)
- Articles and overviews from art press and institutions discuss the 1955 portrait, the 1969 National Portrait Gallery work, and the broader arc of Annigoni’s royal portraits.
- Notable reference pages include summaries of the commissions, sittings, and reception in UK art history contexts.
Cited sources for further reading
- Pietro Annigoni’s portraits of Elizabeth II (overview of works and dates)[1]
- When Pietro Annigoni painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of England (context on commissions and sittings)[2]
- 1969 National Portrait Gallery context and later exhibitions featuring the works[3]
- A true icon: Pietro Annigoni's 1955 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (art press feature)[4]
- Pietro Annigoni (biographical overview with emphasis on royal portraits)[5]
If you’d like, I can pull up the latest news articles or gallery web pages and summarize any fresh developments, exhibitions, or recent scholarly discussions about Annigoni’s Elizabeth II portraits.