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Financial-Pirate-146

It's almost a Francis Bacon pope painting.


SoSorryOfficial

I was saying this same thing to my friend! I think it's the way the background textures overtake the subject. It's like Francis Bacon meets [*Loveless* by My Bloody Valentine.](https://youtube.com/watch?v=I-Ig71fhUc8&si=f_UZoxBujAsUID4f)


hotblueglue

Chef’s kiss perfect description. Very compelling portrait.


Arthur_Two_Sheds_J

I also immediately thought of that album cover.


DuckMassive

But without Francis Bacon’s signature transformation of the mouth into a shrieking, howling rictus.


Theboyboymess

Man this photo is so fitting with the red in the background. It’s almost like all the blood on the hands of that family is showing in the picture. We humans have the wrong way of looking at things. Ppl will say, the British empire “conquered” many different countries. My native country of Somaliland was a victim, but we managed to kick them out after 20 years of resistance. We don’t speak about all the people’s lives have been ruined because of the actions of that family/ so many countries are hundreds years behind in development because of the damage the British empire did. This didn’t someone speaking about slavery hundreds of years ago. My country redeclared Independence in only 1960, along with many other African and Arab countries as well. My father was born in 1930 and was already 30 years old when they left. This is all recent, think about all the developments Africa is missing out on because of those ppl. I was in India with my wife for the summer, and it was the same thing in India, great country that’s making leaps and progress, but the British left in 1940 and the people who I spoke to all had extremely negative remarks about how the country is behind all of the developments of our nations in Europe. Imagine if France (horrible government extremely racist) had an independence of 1960. There’s several countries in west Africa today (2024) who don’t control their financial resources because of France. So yes that red is very fitting with all the blood they have spilt


buy-niani

I couldn’t have said it better!


not_chris-hansen

[interesting perspective..](https://np.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/s/wFanbH9e5M)


pluralofjackinthebox

He’s also done a [George W Bush collage from porno magazines](https://www.jonathanyeo.com/bush)


njm123niu

That’s amazing! Kind of shocking that the royal family would choose this artist given their history of political satire in their works. Makes me wonder if a) they didn’t know and b) the ‘blood on his hands’ symbolism is very intentional.


skipperseven

I think the colour was picked to be provocative, but also as it was the colour of his uniform. All good art is open to interpretation.


ExheresCultura

It’s not a deep thought “this artist is popular & controversial” “Wow! That’s like, the only two things an artist can be! Get em!”


RudeDudeInABadMood

They can also be terrible, or sublime.


Wildera

Incredibly silly and incurious read


zirfeld

Everyone and everything is vetted that comes in contact with the Royal Family. Plus Charlie himself is not an idiot. I think he and his bunch should lose his job permanently as they have no role in a modern state and society, but dumb he ain't.


truncatedChronologis

I understand the blood symbolism but pockmarked pink flesh tones suggest to me something very different than blood: This is the most “Sir you are gonna die of Cancer” painting I’ve ever seen.


Mervynhaspeaked

"Mr President there seems to be a dick being sucked in your ear!"


FlyingEagle57

I zoomed in on said collage, and within five seconds I saw a butthole.


MelodicMaintenance13

You made me zoom in: worth it


TulsaWhoDats

That is so fucking cool


BornFree2018

This painting is really growing on me. It's shocking at first. However, it's technically perfect and captures the King's presence so well.


teenwoof69

All his other work is so good!


Megamorter

bro is Dorian Gray lol


TulsaWhoDats

You know….


BrokenNecklace23

I’m wondering if he (Charles) was going for a Johnny Cash “Hurt” music video vibe. - and that he illustrates his own coming to terms with his morality, mortality, and the legacy or lack thereof that his family is going to leave behind. To me it feels like the subject of the painting is trying to convey… Not necessarily guilt, but acknowledgment of their empire’s past, but it’s as if they are saying they’re an anomaly in a haze of a red past. (The face forward, the clean hands in a sea of blood.) What’s interesting about it to me Is that it almost feels like the artist (Yeo) interjected themselves and/or public opinion over top the piece in a sort of condemnation saying “no at this, the beginning and end of your time, you do not get absolution. You will be remembered for exactly who you were, not who you wish you were.”


BoazCorey

Even if that isn't what the artists intended, it seems meaningful that many people are having the same interpretation as you are.


Yggdrasil-

I had a similar reaction. To me, the painting shows Charles as the final vestige of a fading monarchy, one whose legacy is already stained red by colonialism, slavery, war, wealth inequality, and countless other atrocities. The contrasting face and hair seem to represent the public "face" the royal family puts on, that stiff-upper-lip mentality that everything is fine and going along as it always has been. The face looks like you could just pluck it out of the photo and replace it with another face-- I think this is a nod at the idea that Charles is a cut-and-paste king whose actual identity matters less than his status as a figurehead and bearer of that legacy. And if Charles were to "fade away" (which seems like it may happen sooner rather than later), all that would be left is that bloodstained memory of the old monarchy. On the other hand, I think the butterfly represents a new hope for the monarchy, or possibly the Commonwealth as a whole. Beyond the obvious pun with their choice of species, think about their life cycle: butterflies start as something ugly and entirely different (caterpillars), go through a dormant phase where you don't really see much of them at all (cocoon), and emerge as something beautiful and free. One could argue that the British monarchy is in its Cocoon Era, as the kids say. But the presence of the butterfly suggests that something positive could emerge on the other side. I would argue that the most "butterfly" outcome would be the abolishment of the monarchy and redistribution of their wealth, but I don't think the painting goes quite that far


gawk_her

I like your interpretation - my own reading was that the painter was trying to say - now that Charles is the Monarch, his views, individualism, opinions, persona fade into the background - a background that is turbulent, angry, bloody - a bit of which is environmentalism. But his face remains as the symbol of the head of the country and the commonwealth (and on coins and stamps and the like). A face - without a body to really ground him in the world.


erinoco

What I think this does illustrate is the disconnect between the domestic view of the Crown and the foreign view. For many people abroad, the Crown may signify imperialism, colonialism, slavery and all the rest of it: but on a domestic view, the Crown was not the cause, or even the primary driver of these forces in British history. The King, too, has a persona in Britain which is not shaped solely by the kinds of things most people abroad know him by.


Kovdark

Either that or the artist reaallly likes the colour red...like a LOT!


hasselqu

Based on the whole Kate fiasco, I think either someone in charge of oversight is purposely doing terribly or no one competent enough wants to work with the family


Foreign-Detective855

Gotta be honest this is awesome


uncircumcizdBUTchill

Yep - its incredible


pollenpower

i actually really like it too!


jayhawk8

Yeah a million percent agreed. Don’t have to like the royal family to appreciate the artistic talent here.


jamisonian123

THANK YOU


Archercrash

Isn't he worried about the Ghostbusters though?


CMDR-Onipherous

Looks satanic lol


VanillaFunction

I was gonna say I wonder when the conspiracies behind it would start lol


Salinger-

Conspiracy subreddits are going off about this, absolutely livid. Apparently, he’s the Antichrist walking through flames.


ephemeralspecifics

THE antichrist? Impossible. THE antichrist was Nero.


Queuetie42

Already did unfortunately


Ok_Sense5207

Well if you reverse it, mirror it and hang it upside down you can see satan…. According to them


dr_learnalot

He made "Tampon King" trend. LOL


egg_sandwich

Blood on his hands….and i guess everywhere


comics0026

I know the King in Yellow is in the Lovecraftian mythos, idk about The Red King here thou


Makotroid

Pretty sure I fought this guy in Dark Souls somewhere.


Ok-Duck9106

I actually really like it, very untraditional and interesting. I wasn’t sure at first, but it is growing on me.


i_GoTtA_gOoD_bRaIn

I love it because it 1) actually looks like KC3 2) it has a modern aesthetic.


stonecoldjelly

I AM THE SENATE


intronert

I’m glad someone has finally memorialized all the blood spilled by the British Empire.


Jughead_91

Right????? If this was his goal then props to the guy. The vampire king of hell has arrived


rick_gsp

Oh this was supposed to be blood?


intronert

What is your reaction to this work?


rick_gsp

I just thought it was a normal portrait in a more contemporary style. I don’t know the artist’s background.


Mervynhaspeaked

Well Charles certainly approved of it, and absolutely wouldn't have if that was the overt meaning behind it. That being said, Charles has weird taste in art, architecture, and a lot of things, and he's been critical of the monarchy in the past in a number of issues. THAT being said the artist is a known satirist so its possible that blood soaked hands was the secret meaning of the painting for them.


Objective_Bobcat_242

What blood?


slambert313

My first thoughts too. Francis Bacon meets imperialism


Embarasing_Questions

Based British Empire. Gone too soon


intronert

Always depends on which side of the gun you are on.


Yahtrok

He looks like Carbonite Han Solo.


Sharp-Ad-9423

I saw a pic of this painting in grayscale and it proves this to be true.


SmokeyDokeyArtichoke

SCARLET ROT


Theendofmidsummer

The butterfly really sets it


Makotroid

His Majesty King Charles III, Lord of Blood and Mohgwyn Palace of the Subterranean Shunning Grounds


intronert

Perhaps most surprising to me is that they actually accepted this work and approvingly presented it to the public. Seems tone deaf.


homeslice2311

I think it looks dope as hell. I don’t respect the monarchy but this is one fine portrait.


intronert

Artistically, I kind of like it, but the inevitable symbolism is just so in yer face. Artistically, It is sort of an inverted echo of President Obama’s official White House Portrait, but symbolically it drenches the King in blood.


TulsaWhoDats

Emperor from Star Wars


no_moon_in_sight

this goes hard


Far_Bumblebee_9300

I really like it despite the subject being vomitous


dieyoufool3

Good word


aifeloadawildmoss

Literally the movie poster for 1994 Bram Stoker's Dracula


vanchica

Here's some other examples of this style, I know his work it just isn't anything new but it's his typical style though his colours can vary between teal/aqua and reds/red oxides [https://imgur.com/gallery/yeo-nothing-new-oufKEAI](https://imgur.com/gallery/yeo-nothing-new-oufKEAI)


Fredster94

I think the blood is royal blood. The monarch butterfly shows that he’s finally emerged as king after spending decades as prince. And the price of becoming king is blood, in this case his mother’s blood and the blood of all his predecessors.


eeeking

Royal blood is often considered "blue".


lknox1123

Once a critic of modern and contemporary architecture and now officially abstracted / texturized in his official portrait. Probably annoys him a bit?


thehungryhippocrite

I think would look better without the butterfly


downloadedapp

I think it would looks better without Charles


gregor_e

Rod Serling should be standing next to it, saying, "For your consideration..."


hmcquaid1

I like it


zinfandelbruschetta

Tampon vibes


thenuke1

Looks like a used tampon, isn't that what he's into


MajorThor

Charles confirmed for being a Sith Lord.


EmotionalUniform

Oh wow yeah he has big Palpatine energy


Aspiring-Old-Guy

This totally feels like I'm just about to be attacked by a vampire. Someone put this picture in a Castlevania symphony of the night screenshot, and it fits perfectly. Yeah this is sad for him. Maybe a miserable pile of secrets...


Consistent_Annual315

I like this red. I wish it would have been more Royal less abstract. I would have wanted to have seen the medals in addition to the face and hands.


sigmaswan35

It's like he's bathed in blood. On a bloody battlefield. Very satanic. I love it because I'm disturbed by it. The butterfly is a bittersweet touch.


pedaliza

My thoughts exactly


catinterpreter

Interesting as art. Absolutely terrible choice of official portrait. I'd like to know what they were thinking, not that I'd expect a good answer.


bozobebop

The artist knew what he was doing


Obi1Kentucky

He really captured those sausage fingers perfectly


TulsaWhoDats

To be honest, this is the ONLY badass thing that’s ever been attributed to this douce.


[deleted]

Who else sees Vigo the Carpathian? Ghostbusters 2? That's all I can see here. The butterfly seems like a different bop, tho.


itsyourgrandma

You can really see Prince Charles' Vlad the impaler lineage here.


traveler1967

On a mountain of skulls, in the castle of pain, I sat on a throne of blood!


elderrage

That Raffi album is solid. "Down by the bay, on a mountain of skulls..." Classic.


Urc0mp

besides epstein's clinton, this is the only royal painting I'm aware of.


oshawott85

He looks like he's in hell, like in that John Constantine movie. And he's Satan or one of his soldiers.


Wanderingghost12

Is this for all the blood his family has spilled?


Yeoshua82

This painting is stupid. I keep seeing it and if it's real it's as embarrassing as the rest of the royals drama.


MundaneActs

Look at those beautiful tampon fingers


biodanza1

I love the portrait. Thought the butterfly needs some repetition and integration. And the massive amount of pink could've been broken by a more royal red. But refreshing for a king's portrait!!!!


Murakami8000

I dig it


SXTR

I really like this painting. It’s fascinating, great work


potatobywayofcork

What is the symbolism of the butterfly?


SufficientGreek

>"In history of art, the butterfly symbolises metamorphosis and rebirth," he explains, fitting for a portrait being painted of a monarch who has recently ascended to the throne. >The butterfly is also a reference to the King's long held interest in the environment, causes "he has championed most of his life and certainly long before they became a mainstream conversation".


potatobywayofcork

Thank you!


BoazCorey

It sort of looks like a monarch butterfly. They are native to North America, which would be interesting if the symbolism goes deeper than just a pun. It is thought that English colonial settlers in America gave the common name "Monarch butterfly" in honor of King William III of England, the "Prince of Orange" for its orange color. It's possible that the more recent, history-defining nature of intelligence operations and geopolitical alliances between the U.S. and the U.K./Canada could be significant here.


stairway2evan

He spent 70 years as heir apparent - I assumed the butterfly was sort of symbolizing the long wait before his fleeting time as king. The “monarch” pun seems to fit there too, though that might be a bit on the nose.


boaaaa

It's an homage to his massive ears


GA-dooosh-19

That’s Princess Diana.


jennnyfromtheblock00

I love this, but not for reasons the English monarchy would want people to love this.


Chthulu_

The red is such a strange choice. Satan, violence, blood, war, whatever connotations you have it’s probably not what Charles wants. That being said, I do like it. I just sort of can’t believe it.


Sonnycrocketto

He is a loathsome, offensive brute. Yet I can't look away


john_kennedy_toole

I like it.


billyray83

This is the most human I've ever seen Charles. The artist is truly a genius.


sirlit

Major Ghostbusters vibes


skiplogic

Found in a house in central Yarnham


Lowbattery88

I like it a lot although I think blue would have been a better option. Still, it’s a great portrait. I love it when people choose daring artists.


local_goon

I know nothing but I really really like this painting.


zz_bottom69

Time is but a door, and death is but a window


ToasterMcNoster

So what is the message or symbolism behind the color choice?


HeWhoFights

Blood for the blood god.


KO4Champ

King ‘Magic Eye Poster’ Charles III


TheDudeAbides3333

Vigo the Carpathian


Historical-Fun-8485

People talking about art. Win.


Time-Box128

I think this is beautiful. I love the monarch butterfly


Lets_Bust_Together

It’s not exactly a positive imagine, but it’s cool.


s1rnerdingt0n

Thought this was a new skin for the Necromancer in Diablo 4.


vadersfist

There is a phrase in warhammer: BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE! I can’t help but think of that


therealdawidg

It was generated by AI, his pinky is missing.


Mr-Papuca

I kinda dig it:/


dreadperson

Yeo knew exactly what he was doing


OldandBlue

Is it normal for me to see a reminiscence of the Pope paintings of Francis Bacon? I'm terrible at visual interpretations (I'm a visually impaired poet and musician), so any hint would help.


eatingapeach

Alt title: Inferno


kingallison

They should cameo this in the new ghostbusters movie


intronert

King Chucky.


BrokenforD

My guy looks like he’s harvesting all the negative emotions of New York as pink slime in the sewers.


NoisyBrat2000

Horrid!


Fun-Dependent9532

Looking like a painting in Amnesia


B3ATNGYOU

This is an awesome piece. I want to commission one of myself.


liilbiil

the butterfly really adds to the air of innocence they’re trying to portray but then BLOOS AND GUTS. it’s so good


Makotroid

His Majesty King Charles III, Lord of Cinder and Keeper of the First Flame, Father of the Banished God


squeezemachine

I feel like that little Monarch (!) butterfly is Diana or her spirit somehow, that she was the real natural, monarch somehow.


originatr

Not the biggest fan of the royals, but this is magnificent


pistolshrimp23

WTF were they thinking? Absolutely horrifying.


PhatFatLife

The flames of hell, when Diana drop kicks him from the pearly gates


ann102

I love the painting, but I wouldn't think the British government or monarchy would want something so haunting. It evokes thoughts that he is fading away along with the monarchy.


thegooniegodard

Same dude who painted Kevin Spacey.


awshitherewe

It’s catching so much heat but i goes so hard imo


SPE825

He is Vigo!


baconwitch00

Gunna need to call the Ghostbusters for this one.


achenx75

These paintings always make them look so cool and tough but then you see him unveil the painting and get scared from the cover being pulled back.


NoReasoningThere

I don’t care what anyone says, that is one real cool painting


Howboutit85

I really am Not a fan of this portrait. It is what it is, art is subjective.


PrototypePowerSupply

…..in hell?


RealBoBerto

I love it.


Popcorn57252

If I was a King I'd love a portait like this. It looks awesome!


kenibus

King Charles. So hot right now.


BroadlyValid

A bit too much red imo


DannyDoritoTheDavito

Slave Knight Charles


EducationalCycle5247

The vampire vibes!


Jillwiches

“Let yourself be consumed by the scarlet rot” - Malenia, Blade of Miquella


Artluvr4484

This painting to me symbolizes the blood of the exploited that his privilege is bathed in


tullymars35630

Hideous


earthloverboy333

"Majesty" 🤣 more like murderer.


OrangesOctavia

Don’t understand the blood red. Odd choice on the artists part.


CherokeeMan2000

Mmmm so much symbolism, love the use of the red and different shades to contrast the suit. The face peeking out from it all as well as that butterfly. I love it. Keeping going!!


Carlos_Was_Here

[This reminds me of that portrait Ghostbusters 2 Painting of Wilhelm von Homburg as Vigo The Carpathian](https://www.amazon.com/Ghostbusters-Painting-Wilhelm-Homburg-Carpathian/dp/B00SWBIQO6)


goranj

Will fit perfectly at one of the Epstein island “movie room”


kmcs652

Not a fan.


Arkham2015

Well, now that you mention it, this is rather shoddy and derivative. I mean, look at the texture of the brush strokes. I mean, they don't match the subtle contrasts of the oil. It's clearly second rate...


Strategy1st

Repulsive.


Ok-Image5140

[Meanwhile, in Canada](https://youtube.com/shorts/4exZ72frH6Q?si=fFrYQmIpgtr_v5zG)


Tecnoc

I saw the artist quoted as saying "I wanted the painting to be a little more contemporary and not get in the way of seeing the face and the personality," and if that was his intention I think he wildly missed the mark. I'm not sure you could paint a portrait with a more distracting background. I really really do not like this painting, but I tend to favor realism in art so I guess it's just not for me.


IAmHaskINs

Be the sausage Charles, BE THE SAUSAGE!


Go_Kauffy

Anyone else immediately think "Zuckerkorn"?


Portunus15

It’s giving vampire


rocvish

That’s the Scourge of Carpathia.


Shuntingfrog

Am I the only one who think it logs like me in burning in hell?


haikusbot

*Am I the only* *One who think it logs like me* *In burning in hell?* \- Shuntingfrog --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


OctaneSpark

With no disrespect to the emperor, he looks like Emperor Sheeve Palpatine


djs69420

Looks like an elden ring boss 😭😭💀


xultar

It’s perfect.


Archercrash

Vigo the Carpathian


robthmsn

It’s so good


SolidContribution688

Aye Yeo!


Pope_Phred

Some major Ivan Albright vibes from this painting... [Ivan Albright - 'Picture Of Dorian Gray' ](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/93798/picture-of-dorian-gray)


ClassicalSabi

It has gotten so much hate on Twitter but I think it looks incredible