This portrait entitled Her Majesty’s Trusty and Well Beloved, is a Vanity Fair style portrait of a QC, commissioned by his sons, who requested his portrait in the style of Leslie Ward’s ‘SPY’ cartoons.
The title Her Majesty’s Trusty and Well Beloved comes from the exact wording of the sitter’s Letters Patent (Letters Patent are written orders issued by a monarch, granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person. It is an archaically worded document bearing a large royal seal and encased in a scarlet leather pouch). The sons thought it would contrast nicely with the nonchalant stance of the QC smoking a cigarette.
Her Majesty’s Trusty and Well Beloved – a Vanity Fair style portrait
These are gentle caricatures, nothing too extreme. As Leslie Ward (Spy) said:
If I could sum up the art in a sentence, it would be that caricature should be a comic impression with a kindly touch, and always devoid of vulgarity.Leslie Ward – Wikipedia
To see more of my Vanity Fair style portraits visit my portfolio here.
To see more of Leslie Ward’s Vanity Fair portrait work click here.