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| Michael Eavis at Glastonbury by Peter Blake. 2022. Photographer: Damian Griffiths, image courtesy of Waddington Custot. |
The portrait depicts Michael Eavis standing in front of the festival’s iconic Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm, exactly where the 50th festival is currently being hosted for the to start with time in a few yrs, adhering to cancellations owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the track record is a dairy cow and in the foreground is some somewhat lush and very naturalistic environmentally friendly grass. I appreciate the wrinkly knees!
“Celebrating both the sitter and artist’s significant contributions to British artwork and lifestyle, we are delighted to have commissioned this new portrait of Michael Eavis by Sir Peter Blake for the Nationwide Portrait Gallery’s Collection. Smiling with his arms open up extensive, this portray celebrates Michael and his legacy as he prepares to welcome songs supporters from throughout the environment back again to Glastonbury this 12 months, where by we are delighted to unveil it to also rejoice Sir Peter Blake’s 90th birthday. As a wonderful addition to our modern day selection, we really considerably look ahead to exhibiting this amazing portrait when our reworked National Portrait Gallery reopens in 2023.” Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the Countrywide Portrait Gallery
About Michael Eavis
Michael Eavis was born in 1935 and grew up on Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset. Just after attending both Wells Cathedral University and the Thames Nautical Training Higher education, he joined the British Merchant Navy, but returned to Worthy Farm, aged 19, on the loss of life of his father.
16 yrs after inheriting the 150-acre dairy farm and its 60 cows, Eavis hosted the very first Glastonbury Festival at the site in 1970, motivated just after viewing Led Zeppelin conduct at the Shepton Mallet Blues Competition. 1,500 followers attended the to start with pageant, which now appeals to 200,000 persons per yr, making it one of the most significant greenfield audio and accomplishing arts festivals in the world.
In 2007, Eavis was designed a Commander of the Get of the British Empire in recognition of the beneficial effects he has manufactured by means of his work.
“I’m so delighted to have been painted by my aged friend Peter, and that my portrait is his initial fee for the Countrywide Portrait Gallery. That’s a scarce handle for a Somerset dairy farmer!”
Michael Eavis CBE
About Peter Blake
A fellow tunes lover, Sir Peter Blake is one of the best dwelling British artists.
Born in 1932 in Dartford, Kent, early is effective that introduced him fame incorporate the include for The Beatles’ iconic album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which he built with his initially wife Jann Haworth. Blake is a painter, sculptor, draughtsman and printmaker, who combines factors of well known culture inside of his work. Blake initial exhibited his work in 1950 and from the 1970s to now, he has savored regular gallery and institutional exhibitions – together with retrospectives at the Tate Gallery, London in 1984 and most just lately at Tate Liverpool in 2007.
“I visited the first Glastonbury in 1970 and have beloved the festival ever because, so I was thrilled when the National Portrait Gallery commissioned me to paint Michael’s portrait. Just after getting the fee, we took Michael for lunch at a extravagant West Stop restaurant. He arrived resplendent in his trademark denim shorts, which stopped the restaurant in its tracks! I understood then, that I had to contain them in the portrait. I hope my portray encapsulates Michael’s absolutely free spirit, joyful vitality and enjoy of everyday living.”
Sir Peter Blake CBE
