It was only a little over a year ago that we learned of Bush’s second act painting passion. Some people hate the paintings. Some people love them. Some people don’t spend that much time thinking about them. Still others can’t consider them without remembering that, you know, he was an awful president. I, for one, consider George W. Bush’s public painting career to be endearing. He’s not the best painter in the whole wide world, but he’s not the worst. There’s some skill on display, which is more than could be said for much of his presidency. Do I want to hang them in my house and look at them everyday? Of course not. But I’ve seen worse paintings. More than that, I’ve seen worse paintings painted by actual professional painters. I’m no expert, but Bush’s Putin looks pretty not-the-worst-thing-in-the-world to me.
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The Tony Blair painting on the other hand is a little splotchy, but nobody can be perfect all the time.
Which elite brand of specialty pram (that’s the British word for baby carriage) do Kate Middleton and Prince William have for Prince George? Rumor has it, Kate has upgraded to the Silver Cross Aston Martin! Known as the James Bond of prams, this limited edition, modern masterpiece features ultra-soft Italian suede interior, a carry cot, reclining seat, leather push bar, alloy wheels, and air-ride suspension for gliding over any kind of terrain. Wondering about the price tag of this 007 baby ride? 2,000 pounds, that’s about $3300 US.
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A portrait of the Queen in Westminster Abbey has been defaced with spray paint, an abbey spokesman has said.
A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after being detained by security guards at the abbey, Scotland Yard said.
Campaign group Fathers4Justice said it thought a member was responsible but the protest was not official.
The oil on canvas by Ralph Heimans went on display in Chapter House in May and depicts the Queen in state dress.
It was completed last year for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The incident comes nine days after the monarch and other members of the royal family attended a service at the abbey marking the 60th anniversary of her Coronation.
A spokesman for the abbey said: “In an incident at lunchtime today, a visitor to the abbey sprayed paint on the Ralph Heimans portrait of the Queen presently on display in the Chapter House.
Lord Harris of Peckham, who donated the portrait, said the vandalism was “devastating”
“Until work can be done to remedy the damage it will, very regrettably, not be possible to have the painting on public view.”
Buckingham Palace said it would not making any comment on the incident.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the abbey at about 12:30 BST and the arrested man is in custody at central London police station.
In a statement, Fathers For Justice said: “This was not an official Fathers for Justice protest but it was carried out by one of our members.
“It’s Father’s Day on Sunday – it’s a very emotional time and this protest was a desperate plea for help.”
The group has run a high-profile campaign for more than a decade for improved rights for men who say they have been denied access to their children.
In 2004 and 2005 members were involved in several high-profile protests, including hurling packages of flour at the then Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Commons and climbing buildings including Buckingham Palace and the Foreign Office dressed as superheroes.
The picture was painted by London-based Australian-born artist Heimans after a sitting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in March last year.
The work entitled The Coronation Theatre, Westminster Abbey: A Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II measures 9ft by 11ft and depicts the Queen in the Sacrarium – the area near the altar – of Westminster Abbey.
‘Imagined scene’
It was officially unveiled in London in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee and had been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra until March.
Westminster Abbey’s website says the painting is an “imagined scene set at night… showing The Queen in a moment of solitary reflection and is an exceptional interpretation of the intricate mosaic patterns of the 13th century Cosmati pavement.”
It shows the Queen wearing state dress, including the crimson velvet Robe of State, which she wore to her Coronation on 2 June 1953.
The most important thing is to get it restored. It will take time but it will be able to be put right again”
End Quote Lord Harris Donor of Ralph Heimans’ painting
The work, purchased for the abbey by Lord and Lady Harris of Peckham, was supposed to remain on public display until September.
Lord Harris told the BBC News Channel he understands turquoise paint had been sprayed “over quite a lot” of the portrait.
“The most important thing is to get it restored. It will take time but it will be able to be put right again,” he said.
He said this was damaging something created in honour of the Queen, who had been on the throne for 60 years and who had done so much for the country.
“To take it out on her is ridiculous,” he said.
Speaking last month, Heimans said: “I could not have imagined a more fitting home for my portrait of the Queen than Westminster Abbey, the beauty of which was a great source of inspiration in the conception of the work.
“I am deeply honoured by this acquisition and feel that the significance of the portrait’s narrative will have its strongest resonance in this remarkable setting.”
A spokeswoman for the artist has told the BBC she is still trying to bring Ralph Heimans “up to date” with what has happened to his portrait.
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Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you canupload here.
Employees of Momart, an art transportation company, hold a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II before it is moved into Westminster Abbey on May 17 in London.
A 41-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage, police say
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey was defaced with paint
The portrait, by Ralph Heimans, is being taken down until the damage can be remedied
The abbey has been the site of the coronation of English kings and queens since 1066
London (CNN) — A man has been arrested after a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was defaced with paint Thursday at Westminster Abbey in London, police said.
The 41-year-old man is being held at a central London police station on suspicion of causing criminal damage, London’s Metropolitan Police said. The suspect has not been named by police.
The portrait, by the Australian-born artist Ralph Heimans, is being taken down until the damage can be remedied, the abbey said in a statement.
The 9-foot by 11-foot oil painting depicts the queen in state dress, including the crimson velvet robe she wore for her coronation in 1953, in an imagined scene at night in the abbey.
According to the abbey website, it captures the queen “in a moment of solitary reflection.”
Last week, the queen and other royals attended a service at the abbey to mark 60 years since her coronation there.
There have been 38 coronations at Westminster Abbey since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066.
For Presidents Day, we thought we’d do a bit of catching up with Bill Allman, the White House curator. He took us to the East Room of the White House and gave us the story on Theodore Roosevelt’s official portrait.
President Roosevelt served in the White House from 1901 to 1909, and even in keeping with the standard for activity for commanders in chief, our 26th president was famously busy. That made finding time to sit down so that John Singer Sargent could do his work difficult.
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