Today (Monday 13 June) a rare portrait of Her Majesty the Queen goes on display at The Royal Society for Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce in London.
The image was captured in 2004 by the artist-holographer and RSA Fellow Rob Munday and was recently rediscovered.
Mr Munday found the portrait last August while going through his archive, including more than 8,000 images featuring the Queen that he took during two sittings in Buckingham Palace's yellow drawing room nearly a decade ago.
Mr Munday said: “As I pushed the button to take a test shot, one of the Queen's close aides made a funny remark and the very faintest of smiles came through just at that exact moment. You very seldom see our monarch in an unguarded moment, which is what makes this particular image so special.”
Andy Haldane, the RSA’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Showing off this remarkable image, taken by an esteemed RSA Fellow using the cutting-edge technology he developed, is a perfect way for us to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Her Majesty the Queen is the RSA’s patron, and this is our way to celebrate and thank her for her support and service during her seventy years on the throne.”
The original holographic portrait of the Queen, titled Equanimity, by artist Chris Levine and holographer Munday, was commissioned in 2003 by the Jersey Heritage Trust to celebrate 800 years of the island's loyalty to the Crown.
Two sittings took place and to create a three-dimensional portrait, more than 8,000 images were captured using a Dalsa machine vision camera, at the time the fastest and highest-resolution video camera in the world, able to capture 30 frames per second.
In 2012, the portrait appeared on a Jersey £100 banknote and featured on the front cover of Time Magazine's Diamond Jubilee issue. It was previously voted visitors' favourite portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The original ‘test shot’ and the final holographic image will now be on display in the entrance hall at the RSA on John Adam Street, WC2.
Related articles
-
Groundbreaking commission to supercharge East Midlands launched
Press release
The RSA and the East Midlands Combined County Authority have launched the Inclusive Growth Commission, which will identify and action radical plans to unleash potential and supercharge prosperity in communities across the East Midlands.
-
Meet the newest members of the RSA Fellowship Council
Fellowship news
Fionna Monk
We are delighted to announce the appointment of four new Fellowship Councillors! The Fellowship Council is a vital bridge between our diverse global collective of Fellows and RSA staff. Fellowship Councillors ensure that all Fellows are heard and actively support key RSA initiatives. Each Councillor brings their own expertise and experience to the table, championing our mission and strengthening the RSA community.
-
Unleashing the power of creative clusters
Fellowship news
Fionna Monk
On 24 November, the RSA released a groundbreaking report on how to unleash the potential of the UK as a creative superpower. In partnership with Arts Council England and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC), the RSA presented a blueprint for establishing 'Creative Corridors' across the UK.