Why King Charles's art really does belong in the Royal Scottish Academy
King Charles’s paintings may not impress some art critics, but they are certainly popular
King Charles was once described as “one of Britain’s most successful living artists” on account of his print sales. It’s fair to say this sparked debate among artistic types, with one critic surely flirting with treason by huffily concluding: “They are not awful. They are merely ordinary – and obviously amateur.” Ouch.
However, our monarch is, we would patriotically contend, a better painter than former US President George W Bush – and his work has been praised by New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz as bordering on the “visionary”. Perhaps American critics are just more likely to cheer someone on, than seek to drag them down.
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Whatever the professionally sniffy may say, there’s no disputing that Charles’s work is popular. So Queen Camilla’s suggestion, during a visit to the Royal Scottish Academy, that “one of these days perhaps we could bring a few of his paintings here” sounds like a great idea.
Gareth Fisher, the RSA’s president, sensibly told her the gallery would “love” to have a Scottish landscape, and we really hope it happens. Royal art in a royal academy would only enhance the appeal of both.
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