The new official portraits of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, have been released. The photographs were taken in February to mark the King and Queen's 20th wedding anniversary. The Queen wore a gown designed by Spanish fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, which is part of an exclusive archival collection. She also wore Queen Ena's Diamond Riviere necklace and diamond drop earrings.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz, who received the Prince of Asturias Award in 2013, had wanted to photograph them since then. However, it was the Bank of Spain that commissioned the portraits in 2023. After nine months of anticipation, the Bank of Spain unveiled the royal portraits commissioned from the American photographer. They can be viewed until March 29 as part of the exhibition 'The Tyranny of Chronos.'
The portraits are magnificent. I love the outfits, the setting, the background and the furniture. Both the King and Queen look very regal. However, Letizia looks a bit too serious. I would have liked a slight smile to compliment Felipe's.
ردحذفThere were probably a few hundred of shots taken. This is the image that they want to portray. Maybe we will see some other less serious pictures at some point in the future. Annie Leibovitz is an amazing photographer. I have always loved her work.
حذفExcellent photo's! Perfect.
حذفThese photos are too dramatic. It seems Annie was going for an antique vibe, but missed her mark.
حذفBreathtaking! So Spanish and what a beautiful people, the entourage with the antique objects and historic wallpaper is so perfect and I like the datkness as well as the light fall. The dress is stunning!!! And what a good looking king🙃.
ردحذفNo es papel pintado, por favor... Es raso de seda bordado con hilos de plata y sedas de colores. Es la Sala Gasparini, el más perfecto ejemplo del rococó español. Fue el lugar elegido por A. Leibovitz para las fotos.
حذفThe room is the Sala Gasparini in the Royal Palace in Madrid. The walls are covered with silk satin embroidered with silver thread.
حذفSplendid, wonderful , brilliant images fitting for royalty!
ردحذفSi Mrs Hellen quiere incluir el vestido y la capa de Letizia:
ردحذفhttp://images.ecestaticos.com/eREmep7tIC4j6UclD5eraARrcAQ=/3x26:801x1090/568x757/filters:fill(white):format(jpg)/f.elconfidencial.com%2Foriginal%2Fed5%2F471%2F1a7%2Fed54711a752c6a2723ddc93878d46c72.jpg
http://static.mujerhoy.com/www/multimedia/202411/26/media/cortadas/reina-letizia-vestido-capa-balenciaga-retrato-leibovitz-U38158722407jCr-650x900@MujerHoy.jpg
No entiendo por qué sale Anónimo y no Angie.
حذفInformación adicional: el vestido es de 1948, tiene 76 años. La capa es de 1961 y su antigua dueña la llevó en la boda de JC y Sofía en Atenas.
These are really dramatic pictures: photography as form of art, great art!
ردحذفVery very beautifull
Absolutely very dramatic, love it, although what photoshopping at least on Letizia
حذفLetizia looks gorgeous. And those diamonds...I imagine are the "joias de passar".
ردحذفThe portraits are wonderful and show the King and the Queen with a quiet confidence in their expressions. I think the background is good too as it’s richly ornamented yet subdued in colour putting the focus on the subject. Q.Letitia’s gown and jewels are splendid. Annie Leibovitz is such a good photographer and seems to bring out the character of her subjects so well. The photos she took several years ago of Q. Elizabeth with her grandchildren and with P. Anne are exceptional. (V.M.)
ردحذفSo well said V.M.
حذفWOW!
ردحذفFabulous images. The angle which the kings’s picture was taken seems like it is not quite square in the frame tilting to the left. Handsome couple, love the dress and cape, so dramatic
ردحذفWow - look like renaissance paintings, gorgeous! What a quantum leap compaired to the recent unsuccesful portraits of Frederik and Mary.
ردحذفFrederik and Mary's portraits were Civilian portraits (as was stated in the caption accompanying the portraits) meaning they are to be used by thousands of civilian institutions (churches, schools, libraries, etc.) as well as government offices. These Spanish portraits are 'art' portraits, or 'official' portraits, destined for use in far more limited circumstances, and created mainly for historical reference and recording purposes. They are not for wide distribution.
حذف- Anon 9:13
Beautiful picture of Queen Letizia. The picture of King Felipe is too dark. The right part of his face doesn't catch the light very well. No picture of the two of them together ? Strange
ردحذفIn reference to the comment “no picture of two of them together”, the pictures are designed to be displayed side by side so that the couple are standing together in the same room. See the furniture walls etc continue across both portraits. Very clever and the dark tones very Spanish and evocative of other royal painted portraits hanging on the palace walls - Grace
حذف@ Grace
حذفEven if the pictures have to be considered as one there is still a distance between the two of them.
It's a dyptich, it's one picture separated in two. The portraits are designed to be shown together side by side so you can see they're in the same room at the same time. You can see continuity in the objects in the room, like the chair that mostly is in Felipe's part but also in Letizia's.
حذفThis is very deliberate, very clever, very artistic. The portrait of Felipe is not too dark, it is how it is meant to look. If Ms. Leibovitz had wanted the portrait to look lighter, she would have make it look lighter. It is very simple to do in post-production. All photographers make these adjustments during post, and Ms. Leibovitz is not someone I would ever question. She had a vision. As for portraits of them as a couple, I am sure there were many taken. This is what they have chosen to release at this time.
حذفGrace, in classic paintings spouses were always painted separate and hung next to each other.
حذفThese follow that tradition, that is what , among the total scenery and outfits, is so special about them.
Quels magnifiques portraits.
ردحذفLetizia est splendide, sérieuse oui mais c est un portrait officiel
Froufrou
Beautiful pictures, but somewhat over the top …. They’re no models.
ردحذفWho are models in comparison to royals? Completely irrelevant
حذفI agree. Arty but not royal
حذفWhat does that even mean?
حذفIt means the pictures are beautiful and artistic, but mainly self-aggrandizement. Certainly now a lot of Spanish people are suffering from the aftermath of heavy floods and have to survive and build their live again. At such a time such ‘royal’ folies are out of touch.
حذفHaving studied Spanish art history, these portraits of the monarchs are 'perfect.' They fit right in with Velazquez and El Greco; there is a consistency. Yet since they are photographs, there is modernity. It was great that Balenciaga participated. Christine
حذفBefore putting the frame around these pictures they should have put a white or off-white passe-partout around the photo to create some contrast with the darkness.
ردحذف¡Qué disparate! Estas fotografías no están impresas en papel, sino sobre lienzo, como si fueran pinturas. No son para el comedor de la abuela.
حذفAnon 17:05. Are you for real?
حذفAn amateur opinion from an amateur photographer. A white mat would completely disrupt the eye flow.
حذف@ Anon. 21:33
حذفI am not an amateur photographer, I am not a professional photographer either. I just find them too dark, that's all. Maybe if the pictures were not presented with a golden frame, I would have liked it better. I am not going to say sorry for my opinion.
Oh my 🥰 just stunning pictures !
ردحذفQué guapa eres Letizia. Te veo. Estas en mi corazón. King Felipe, what a great king.
ردحذفStunning! I love Annie Leibovitz's work and these 2 portraits are fabulous.
ردحذفJanet
Les couleurs rouge, noire et vert bronze mettent en valeur ces magnifiques portraits !
ردحذفHowever QL looks beautiful and wears a terrific gala dress, to me the chosen portrait gives the impression of an add for an expensive perfume.
ردحذف@anon 18:54 You are right! Couldn´t put my finger on it but perfume add is so true ;-D
حذفThe pictures are beautiful, but I find them too dark and I still miss a complementary picture of the two of them standing together with no distance between them.
ردحذفDid you read the comments?
حذف@ Anon. 07:51
حذفYes I did. I understood it has to be considered as 1 picture and I see as it is, if they are present in the same room, but there is still a distance between them. I miss a picture of them as a couple, like it is tradition in other Royal houses. I also understood that these pictures are not printed on photopaper and not meant to be distributed, but to put in government institutions, and other important buildings.
Maybe they will have made later on another occasion a picture of the two of them to distribute to the public or everyone who wish to buy one.
A bit inappropriate given the recent extreme weather events and royal families continue to portray lavish lifestyles that don't help anyone
ردحذفThese were commissioned and taken in February long before the floods. They are the king and queen, fabulous photos
حذف@anon 21:55
حذفI was thinking about that too. Why now? As gorgeous as these portraits are I wonder how the timing will be perceived.
From above: "The photographs were taken in February to mark the King and Queen's 20th wedding anniversary."
حذفWhat do pictures taken 9 months ago have to do with current events? Read and educate yourself before making non-sensical comments.
I think we all get that these were taken months ago. But why release them now? The timing seems off.
حذفThe portrait of the Royal Couple was released by the Bank of Spain. The photos were commissioned by the Bank of Spain. They will be shown as part of the "La tirania de Cronos" exhibition at the Bank of Spain. A lot of planning goes into exhibitions and it has to be done long before the actual event. Postponing the exhibition won't make a change. How long should the Bank of Spain wait before you deem it appropriate to show the portrait? There will never be the "right" time. So now is as good a time as any. Rina
حذفPS. Feel free to donate for the victims.
Ok Rina, thank you for giving context! That puts in perspective.
حذفPS: a 20+ years Red Cross donator here ;-)
Excellent point, Anon 20:02. For many people, there will never be a right time to release these portraits. There will always be something going on in Spain, or around the world, that makes their release feel inappropriate to some people.
حذف@ "How long should the Bank of Spain wait before you deem it appropriate to show the portrait?"
حذفUntil the people who have lost their homes and belongings have received sufficient help?
Hi Rina, in regard to your last sentence. Don’t be so patronizing!
حذفAnon 12:31. "Until the people have received sufficient help". Who will be the judge of that? Who are you to tell the Bank of Spain what they can or can't add to their exhibition? Entitled much?
حذفAnd how, pray tell, will postponing this exhibition indefinitely speed this process up? You don't have an answer to that, do you? Thought so. According to your logic, life in Spain has to come to a Stand-still. Nobody is allowed to laugh, love or live. Nessun Dorma. I think your comment is meant to be divisive, to trigger emotions. If you're so concerned and invested in the flood victims dire circumstances than by all means, go and offer help. Be a real life hero, not just a keyboard-warrior, there's to many as it is. After you've restored peace and quiet in Spain, do move on to the next disaster area, there's no shortage of them. And if you can't be bothered, just take a hard look at yourself and see what you come up with. Anon 20:02
Well, someone's emotions got triggered...
حذف@ "Who will be the judge of that?" The victims themselves perhaps?
Life goes on, everybody knows that.
And the king and queen are not personally responsible, everybody knows that too.
Will these portraits have any effect (positive or negative)? I don't know.
Are we allowed to question the reasoning behind The Bank of Spain's decisions? Of course we are.
Do you have to agree with this? Of course not.
None of this is critizising them, so you can calm down a bit ;-)
The King and Queen look magnificent. I love the attire they are both wearing. The Queen's jewels are stunning.
ردحذفAbsolutely spectacular and regal!!
ردحذفAlthough I find the artistry stunning, I also feel they look sinister. The darkness, their expressions, all very serious and stern.
ردحذفSomething like "The Fall of the House of Usher"...?
حذفi agree with Cinci. These photos look sinister, I dont'like.
حذفThese portraits are fantastic. Such interesting use of light, a beautiful setting, and so well composed to be displayed together. The King and Queen look dignified and elegant.
ردحذف-Royal Watcher
Annie Leibovitz is a genius and has the ability to capture the essence of ones soul. Here in America the official portraits are also taken separate of each other. I love that they are full body portraits, I have also admired the full body portrait of our great late First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (who I instantly thought of when I first saw her portrait) and who was as close to royalty we have ever seen here in America and her portrait featured her in an elegant gown too. One more thing I still do not understand why some keep stating that they are not smiling. The point is to make them look REGAL and not like they would in a family photograph. You never saw Queen Elizabeth smiling in an official portrait!
ردحذفYou are so right: Annie Leibovitz IS genius !
حذفI like the fact that Queen Letizia is not wearing a crown or tiara, she looks regal and beautiful without them.
ردحذفEn la Colección de Retratos Reales del Banco de España, sólo hay una Dama con tiara: Isabel II, porque era la Reina titular. Las demás son consortes y ninguna lleva.
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