A new sculpture of Queen Elizabeth is the latest in a series of poorly received depictions of the late monarch
Among the most controversial depictions of the late monarch: a giant terracotta sculpture of the Queen with her husband Philip Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
For centuries, sculptors have been in a rarefied position of privilege, able to define what any great person of an age looks like without fear of contradiction. But now, it seems almost a natural reflex that every time another sculpture of a public figure is unveiled, observers let out an enormous collective groan, dismayed at the abject failure to capture, in any way, the essence of the subject.
Correspondingly, there are few places for an artist to hide when they have a commission to depict Queen Elizabeth II. There cannot be many people in history so universally well known, and the focus of so many pieces of art. While our late monarch was well practised at reacting with regal detachment at yet another impression of her visage, the public is less restrained – if a sculpture bears little resemblance to her, everyone will instantly comment.
It was of little surprise, then, that when the latest sculpture of the Queen and Prince Philip by Anthony “Anto” Brennan was unveiled in Antrim Castle Gardens this week, it prompted a somewhat mixed reception. Here are some more members of the rogues’ gallery of questionable Queen Elizabeth II sculptures….
Chen Dapeng’s bust of the Queen looks less like the late monarch and more like an enlarged Tom Hanks
Discovered in a house clearance sale, the terracotta depictions of the late Royal couple may be the most unusual
Perhaps the most unusual depictions of themselves that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh may have actually personally seen were a pair of giant terracotta heads that became unlikely tourist attractions outside a home on the outskirts of Windsor. Ben Bennett discovered them in a house clearance in Chelsea several years ago and they were amplified with plastic grass hair and had pride of place on the front lawn of his house in Oakley Green.
Ben Lawrence argues this depiction resembles Jimmy Krankie more than it does Queen Elizabeth
In April this year, the first permanent memorial of the Queen was unveiled in Rutland by the sculptor Hywel Pratley. As he worked on the statue, which featured her “at the height of her power” and with three of her favourite corgis scuttling around the base of the plinth, he spoke about how honoured he was to get such a prestigious commission. However, it got a somewhat mixed response, with Ben Lawrence, the Telegraph’s Daily Arts Editor, dubbing it a “horror: unsightly, stupid and a little scary”. He said it turned the Queen into a “ghastly chimaera, sporting a girlish dress that makes her look like a stumpy Titania, or a cast-off from Frozen, with the faintest hint of wee Jimmy Krankie”.
‘It’s horrible and looks more like fat Queen Victoria,’ was one reader’s verdict on Richard Bossons’ creation
King Charles himself unveiled the first statue of the Queen after her death at York Minster in November 2022. Originally commissioned to mark her Platinum Jubilee, it was designed and carved by cathedral stonemason Richard Bossons. The King said he was “enormously touched” to be asked to unveil it. It was not universally loved, however. The York Press asked readers to write in with their opinions, and while many were impressed, others were not. “It’s horrible and looks more like fat Queen Victoria than our pretty Queen”, said one. Another; “I think the stonemasons should have gone to Specsavers”.
Doug Ford may have appreciated this portrait of the Queen, but others found it ‘ugly’ and ‘horrid’
Taking pride of place outside the Ontario legislature in Toronto, this statue of Queen Elizabeth II was described by state premier Doug Ford as “beautiful” and an “enduring symbol of our traditions, values, and democracy” when it was unveiled in 2023.
Constructed out of 3,500 pounds of bronze, it depicted the Queen in 1977 on the throne in the Canadian Senate where she gave a speech on Canadian unity. But while its scale is impressive, many were not so impressed with the rendition of her face. “It looks absolutely NOTHING like QEII!! Everything is beautiful apart from the face! That’s really ugly,” said one local, whilst another said it was “horrid” and “too masculine”.
Poppy Field proved an exception to the rule, with her widely well received depictions of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II
The late Queen may have a tower, a bridge, a Tube line and even a Croydon park among the many things named in her honour in London, but until recently there were no statues in the capital. That changed in 2020 when, gearing up for its 150th anniversary the following year, the Royal Albert Hall commissioned young sculptor Poppy Field to create statues of Elizabeth and Philip. Despite being two-metres tall, the bronze figures are somewhat understated and are sited in formerly unused niches on the South Porch of the building. Unveiled on November 11 2023 by an emotional King Charles, they have perhaps bucked the trend of recent celebrity statues, and been well received.
‘We have to be honest, it does not resemble the queen in any shape or form,’ remarked a local councilor
It is not the first time that Belfast artist Anthony “Anto” Brennan, who is behind the latest sculpture to have caused such a furore, has depicted the Queen. He has also created a satirical chess set inspired by the Good Friday Agreement, which shows the late Monarch with an overstuffed mouth of glistening white teeth. Of his latest, unveiled this week, Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor Vera McWilliam said: “We have to be honest, it does not resemble the queen in any shape or form.”
