Portrait of Michael Eavis to hang in National Portrait Gallery

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Michael Eavis at Glastonbury by Peter Blake. 2022.
Photographer: Damian Griffiths, picture courtesy of Waddington Custot.

The portrait depicts Michael Eavis standing in front of the festival’s legendary Pyramid Phase at Worthy Farm, where by the 50th pageant is getting hosted for the initially time in 3 yrs, following cancellations thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the qualifications is a dairy cow and in the foreground is some somewhat lush and incredibly naturalistic green grass. I appreciate the wrinkly knees!

In summary a well known artist age 90 with a white beard, best regarded for co-developing the sleeve style and design for the Beatles‘ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band has painted a portrait of a further old bloke, age 86 – with a white beard – who established and hosts the Glastonbury Festival on his farm in Somerset.

“Celebrating the two the sitter and artist’s important contributions to British artwork and tradition, we are delighted to have commissioned this new portrait of Michael Eavis by Sir Peter Blake for the National Portrait Gallery’s Assortment. Smiling with his arms open up extensive, this painting celebrates Michael and his legacy as he prepares to welcome songs followers from throughout the environment back to Glastonbury this calendar year, wherever we are delighted to unveil it to also celebrate Sir Peter Blake’s 90th birthday. As a wonderful addition to our modern collection, we really considerably glimpse forward to exhibiting this excellent portrait when our transformed National Portrait Gallery reopens in 2023.” Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery

About Michael Eavis

Michael Eavis was born in 1935 and grew up on Deserving Farm in Pilton, Somerset. Just after attending both equally Wells Cathedral University and the Thames Nautical Schooling College, he joined the British Merchant Navy, but returned to Deserving Farm, aged 19, on the death of his father. 

16 yrs immediately after inheriting the 150-acre dairy farm and its 60 cows, Eavis hosted the 1st Glastonbury Pageant at the web site in 1970, influenced immediately after seeing Led Zeppelin carry out at the Shepton Mallet Blues Festival. 1,500 fans attended the 1st pageant, which now draws in 200,000 men and women for each 12 months, producing it a person of the most significant greenfield songs and accomplishing arts festivals in the environment. 

In 2007, Eavis was created a Commander of the Get of the British Empire in recognition of the beneficial influence he has produced via his do the job.

“I’m so delighted to have been painted by my previous close friend Peter, and that my portrait is his initially commission for the Countrywide Portrait Gallery. That’s a exceptional deal with for a Somerset dairy farmer!”

Michael Eavis CBE

About Peter Blake

A fellow songs lover, Sir Peter Blake is just one of the biggest dwelling British artists. 

Born in 1932 in Dartford, Kent, early functions that introduced him fame include the include for The Beatles’ iconic album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which he built with his very first wife Jann Haworth. Blake is a painter, sculptor, draughtsman and printmaker, who brings together components of well-known lifestyle within just his do the job. Blake first exhibited his work in 1950 and from the 1970s to today, he has loved regular gallery and institutional exhibitions – such as retrospectives at the Tate Gallery, London in 1984 and most lately at Tate Liverpool in 2007. 

He carries on to be related with the environment of songs. In 2022, Blake was knighted as a Commander of the Get of the British Empire for his solutions to artwork. 

“I frequented the very first Glastonbury in 1970 and have liked the festival at any time since, so I was thrilled when the National Portrait Gallery commissioned me to paint Michael’s portrait. Soon after acquiring the fee, we took Michael for lunch at a extravagant West Conclusion restaurant. He arrived resplendent in his trademark denim shorts, which stopped the cafe in its tracks! I realized then, that I had to consist of them in the portrait. I hope my painting encapsulates Michael’s totally free spirit, joyful strength and really like of lifestyle.”
Sir Peter Blake CBE

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