Portraits // Diana, Princess of Wales

Large

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Year: 1990

Royal Collection, UK

As a result of the successful exhibition at the Roy Miles Gallery in 1989, Zohar was invited to paint a formal portrait of Diana, the Princess of Wales. Zohar met the Princess at Kensington Palace on the 1st of May, 1990. It was a very difficult time for the Princess, but from the beginning she and Zohar found a lot in common in the subjects of art, life, and children. They spent a pleasant time together laughing and joking, and Diana was looking forward with great anticipation to see the resulting work. The painting was made to hang at the headquarters of the Royal Hussars among the portraits by the greatest artists in European history. The idea was to create a classical portrait in the same spirit. When Diana saw the painting, she was moved to tears. The artist heard, in great shock and horror, about her tragic death several years later. The memory of her kindness, warmth, and sympathy remains with him. (artist’s account)