Presentation

#97030     32″ X 24″     giclee on canvas

After the glamorous “Wedding of the Century,” Princess Diana was pregnant and on June 21, 1982, the little Prince William was born. It was cause for national rejoicing, but no one rejoiced more than Diana. The child was not only the heir to the throne, but the living, breathing symbol of her love for her husband.

When the Queen saw the tiny bundle the day after his birth, she smiled at Diana and said, “Well, thank goodness he doesn’t have ears like his father.” Yes, the little prince was undoubtedly a lovely, handsome baby. It’s said that between the two births of William and Harry, the second prince born on September 15, 1984, Diana and Charles enjoyed the happiest time of their marriage.

This picture by Dr. Chen was based originally on a photo of Prince William with his parents on the occasion of his first birthday. Through artistic arrangement, Chen has added Queen Elizabeth to the joyous occasion, suggesting the three generations of British royal sovereignty together as one family. Above them is the famous image of “Madonna and Child in Majesty” by Cimabue, an icon as well as an artwork of the Middle Ages, now treasured in the Uffizi Palace in Firenze. In Cimabue’s work, the Madonna is presenting the baby Christ to the world under the showers of blessings from angels. So in this new version of Presentation, the British royal family proudly yet informally, presents Prince William, the future king, to England.

by T. F. and Julie Chen