Ralph Heimans

Ralph Heimans
Born Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality Australian
Education University of Sydney
Julian Ashton Art School
Known for Painting
Notable work The Coronation Theatre, Westminster Abbey: A Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Website
www.ralphheimans.com

Ralph Heimans, AM, is an Australian-born contemporary portrait painter. He is known for large-scale narrative works, using chiaroscuro and 17th Century glaze techniques.

His father Frank is a documentary maker, and his mother Josette teaches French.[1]

Heimans studied Fine Arts and Pure Mathematics at the University of Sydney and continued his art studies at the Julian Ashton Art School. In 1997 he moved to Paris to take up a commission from the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.[2]

In 2005, he was commissioned to paint the first state portrait of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; it was completed in 2006, and hangs in the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle.[3]

Other subjects include musician and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, High Court Justice Michael Kirby, and politician Tom Uren.[4]

In 2012, Heimans was offered a sitting with Queen Elizabeth II to paint an official portrait for her Diamond Jubilee. The painting was based on a photographic session with the Queen held at Buckingham Palace, but is set in Westminster Abbey, the site of her Coronation. It was first on display in the National Portrait Gallery of Australia until April 2013.[5] Acquired by the Westminster Abbey in London for its permanent collection it was put on public display there in May 2013. In June the painting was damaged by a vandal, the extent of the damage is currently unclear. It is suspected the vandalism was an unofficial protest in favour of campaign group Fathers 4 Justice.[6]

The painting went back on public display at Westminster Abbey on 16 July 2013.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Davies, Lucy (18 September 2012). "Portraits of power". Daily Telegraph (London).
  2. ↑ "Ralph Heimans biography". Cat Street Gallery.
  3. ↑ "The painter and the princess". National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Ralph Heimans". Lines and Colors.
  5. ↑ "Diamond Jubilee portrait captures her majesty". The Australian. 29 September 2012.
  6. ↑ Queen's portrait defaced with spray paint in Westminster Abbey
  7. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23334433. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links