University reveals new portrait of Richard III

Published On Thu 26 Mar 2015 by Roddy Isles

A University of Dundee team who worked on the original reconstruction of the face of Richard III have revealed a new portrait of him.

Artist Janice Aitken, who is based in the University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, worked with facial reconstruction experts in the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at Dundee (also part of the University) on the original reconstruction of Richard III’s head, which was developed from his skeletal remains.

Janice textured the head, using a combination of references such as portraits from the appropriate period and recent photographs of men of the approximate age and build as the subject.

Now she has further applied the knowledge gained through the reconstruction process to paint a new portrait of Richard III.

“The new portrait references both the CAHID reconstruction and the original portrait of Richard III by an unknown artist from around 1504 - 1520 that currently hangs in Windsor Castle,” said Janice.

“There are many copies of paintings of Richard III but I understand that there are no paintings of him directly from life in existence. I thought that it would be interesting to add to the visual record by combining the recent reconstruction with a work that was probably painted by a contemporary of the Plantagenet king.”

Janice said being involved with the Richard III project, which has led to the reburial taking place in Leicester today, had been “incredible”.

“It was an incredible project to be a part of,” she said. “I was completely unprepared for the impact that the reconstruction would have. The story of the discovery of the remains of Richard III seems to have resonated across the world.“

Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk