Vandalised Portrait of the Queen Rehung at Westminster Abbey

Ralph Heimans

Ralph Heimans’ jubilee portrait of the Queen has been rehung at Westminster Abbey a month after it was vandalised by a Father’s For Justice protester. It was defaced in May by Tim Haries, 41, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. He appeared in court last month charged with causing more than £5,000 worth of criminal damage to the painting.

The electrician has been ordered to appear in court for smuggled a can of spray paint into the church before vandalising the work of art.
The artist stated; he was glad to see the painting “back where it belongs”.”I am thrilled that the painting has been restored in good time and that it can be returned to public display as intended,” Heimans added.

The oil on canvas by Ralph Heimans went on display in Chapter House in May and depicts the Sovereign in state dress. The large scaled painting measures 9ft by 11ft and shows the Queen in the Sacrarium of Westminster Abbey which is also known as the Coronation Theatre.The Queen sat for an hour for London-based Australian Mr Heimans at Buckingham Palace last year, leaving him to use his imagination to “place” her in the Abbey in the full-size oil portrait. The painting was due to remain on display until September 27.

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