The spectacular portraits of the monarchs that Annie Leibovitz created and which already hang on the walls of the Bank of Spain have a lot of meaning. From the choice of halls in the Royal Palace, the number of hours it took to create the pose, the author’s inspiration while creating the work, the composition of the diptych, the careful styling, jewelry and decorations with which Don Felipe and Dona Letizia Immortalized, some of the details hidden in this work of art are already part of history and we are about to reveal.
Hello!
Hello!Stage, a room that no longer exists
Annie Leibovitz had complete freedom for this assignment. The artist immersed himself in the history of official portraits of our country, studied the great lords of the court like Velázquez and decided that kings should be imprisoned in the royal palace. Other locations were also considered, such as the exterior of the palace grounds or the various offices of the Bank of Spain. The beauty of the Gasparini Room and the elaborate Baroque decoration impressed the portrait painter who was fascinated by the room.
© National HeritageSix hours of intense poses in a good environment
Don Felipe and Dona Letizia were photographed by the photographer on February 7. According to Yolanda Romero, conservator at the Bank of Spain, the photo session was “intense, but it was also calm”. The King arrived at midnight and the Queen a little earlier and the posse lasted from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm which included meal time. Leibovitz brought five members of his team with him to the Royal Palace, according to the curator, and a relaxed atmosphere was created. The monarchs have known the artist for years, since in 2013 they awarded him the Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanity.
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© GTRESA ‘making of’ that has yet to see the light of day
So many hours of work are recorded. According to Romero, there is one turn off Which has not been made public and may see the light of day in the future. It will record the author’s work and show discarded images.
Two portraits in one and a chair as a common thread
The work is conceived as a diptych and although there are two portraits, it is actually one. One cannot be understood without the other. On the left, King captures the chiaroscuro technique and traditional apparatus with all the details of the portrait very reminiscent Las Meninas Such as tables, open doors, chandeliers and clocks by Velázquez. On the right, Dona Letizia, flooded with natural light through large windows, looks directly at the viewer and seems to be visiting her husband. This is an image of continuity seen with a chair, the foreground of which is cut in Don Felipe’s photo, but which continues in Dona Letizia.
Some of the best travel photos taken with digital cameras
Annie Leibovitz has been “very meticulous” with the entire creative process and the final result of the work. He photographed the monarchs with a digital camera and decided to print the images on fabric (polyester) in the United States. He was in charge of choosing the golden paintings that framed his work. This is the first time that a portrait of the King commissioned by the Bank of Spain has been made in photography rather than painting.
© Annie Lebowitz/Bank of Spain Collection
© GTRESThe king posed as a captain general, although he also wore other costumes
Following other monarchs painted by great artists centuries ago, Don Felipe is posed in the formal uniform of an army captain general. He stands for his navy blue tunic with gold buttons, red sash as Supreme Commander of the Army, Golden Fleece, necklace of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, Grand Cross of Military Merit or Grand Cross. talent It is the most relevant military uniform.
Don Felipe, as expressed by Yolanda Romero in the presentation of the image, He also wore a morning suit and tails to the session. And she was depicted with both outfits. Finally, Annie Libotiz decided that the final photo would be in a military man’s outfit.
© Annie Lebowitz/Bank of Spain CollectionTribute to the Queen in Spanish fashion
The condition Leibovitz set for creating this portrait was that the kings wore gala clothes. In addition, the Bank of Spain has stipulated that the dress chosen by Doña Letizia is not used in any other official portrait. It must be remembered that this diptych is not an official photograph of the king and his wife, but a work of art. Doña Letizia, with her black strapless dress by Cristóbal Balenciaga made in the 40s, pays tribute to the most international Spanish fashion. He was the one who decided to wear this mermaid-line suit by María Junient, niece of painter, set designer and collector Oleguer Junient, who was a neighbor of the Balenciaga workshop in Barcelona. His son, Oleguer Armengol, donated the dress to the Junient Antoni de Montpalau Foundation. The Queen wowed in the pose with a strapless neckline, a cut we haven’t seen in a long time, but was one of her favorites for the most prestigious event earlier that year.
© Annie Lebowitz/Bank of Spain CollectionThe fuchsia cape, a nod to Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofia, is a surprise
Queen Letizia wows in style in a fuchsia silk taffeta gala cape made in the Balenciaga workshop in 1962. It’s not a dress she usually wears, but it gives it a package and height look at. The dress was designed by Toruela de Montgri and Countess of Robert, Maria del Carmen Ferrer-Cazigal de Robert, for the wedding of Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofia on May 14, 1962. Donated to the Antoni de Montpelau Foundation by Carmen de Robert Ferrer-Cazigal.
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© GTRESA dress that was exhibited at the Thyssen Museum
The fuchsia cape was not seen in public for the first time. This can already be appreciated in the Balenciaga and Spanish Paintings exhibition that can be enjoyed at the Thyssen Museum in Madrid from June 18 to September 22, 2019. The dress shows the link between Basque couturier and Spanish painting traditions between the 16th and 20th centuries. In the exhibition, the shawl was arranged next to Zurbaran’s canvas Santa Casilda painting. As for what choosing these pieces meant for Ms. Letizia, Josep Casamartina Parasols, director, co-founder and vice president of the Antoni de Montpalau Foundation, is clear. “For the Foundation, this selection is an important fact and recognition of our work in the promotion, compilation and study of Spanish fashion.”
© Annie Leibovitz / Banco de España CollectionA queen without a tiara and with a ring from her own collection
Yolanda Romero highlights that Annie Leibovitz photographed Doña Letizia with a tiara and Carlos III sash, her most majestic features. However, those photos were discarded, something that doesn’t take away any of the seriousness of the portrait. However, the Queen appeared with spectacular jewels from the Queens of Spain. These are the earrings and chaton necklace of Queen Victoria Eugenia, Don Felipe’s great-grandmother, which she debuted on Naruhito’s throne in Japan. Also, he wears a ring on his left index finger. Love drives everything, Which has practically not been removed since the beginning of 2023 and is worn at almost all official events. On this occasion he also wanted to go down in history with him.
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© Getty ImagesKings would visit his portrait
The presentation of the diptych did not include the presence of the painter or the author. However, it is expected that in the future they will visit the Bank of Spain at its final destination, the governing council chamber of the entity. According to Yolanda Romero, Annie Lebovitz will definitely come to Madrid to see her. In presentations to the media, the conservative said that it did not take long for the kings to accept the Americans’ offer to photograph.
© Carlos Alvarez137,000 euros for two historic photos
In October 2022, the Bank of Spain began the process of introducing portraits of the monarchs, which culminated nearly a year later with the selection of Annie Leibovitz. It was the artist’s agent, Karen Mulligan, who signed the contract on September 23, 2023 for €137,000. 20% of this amount was disbursed at the agreed time and 80% was received with final acceptance and delivery of work. Image rights are shared between the artist and the Bank of Spain
