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The Portrait
Description
It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for portrait artist Phil Richards.
The renowned Toronto painter has been commissioned by the Government of
Canada to create a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion
of her Diamond Jubilee. But this historic assignment also poses enormous
challenges for Richards, who’s accustomed to spending long hours with his
subjects, in person.
This time, he must take a dramatically different approach.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Hubert Davis, The
Portrait follows Richards to Rideau Hall for a brief photo
session with Her Majesty. Then, Richards sets about creating an amazing world
of studies, maquettes, even doll-like sculptures, all to help him capture The
Queen’s likeness and spirit.
After months of solitary study and preparation, Richards travels to
Buckingham Palace for an all-important meeting with Her Majesty, to see if she
approves of his vision and approach. She does, to his great relief, and work
can now finally begin on the official portrait.
Under the watchful direction of Hubert Davis, we observe Richards as all
the months of painstaking study and preparation come to fruition, and Her
Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee portrait takes shape before our very eyes.
2012, 41 min 40 s
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