Princess Diana | A Portrait by Nelson Shanks | Masterpiece 2022

This highly emotive work of Diana, Princess of Wales was painted from life in 1994 and can rightly be described as the most affecting painted portrait of the ‘People’s Princess’.
This painting is a preparatory work for a later official portrait which is now at Althorp House.
The sittings for this portrait took place at a critical moment in Diana’s personal life, and over the course of thirty sittings and thirty-five hours, Nelson Shanks’ London studio became a place of solace and refuge for Diana.
Diana became close friends with both the artist and his wife, Leona and later confided in a letter to Nelson and Leona that ‘…coming to the studio was a safe haven, so full of love and support.’
Perhaps through these formed friendships, Shanks was able to capture both Diana’s personal identity and her celebrity. Through Diana’s strikingly honest expression Shanks has captured her private being as much as her celebrity whilst she sits in her world-famous Catherine Walker halter-neck dress.

[@airportnurse3380]

This portrait is so incredibly moving it makes me want to cry.

[@mariapilarme]

Only great artist can show the soul of the sitter. Fantastic!

[@ivorytower99]

A striking portrait of the late Princess.
Best of luck this weekend!
Cheers from Boston, US

[@bludeetu321]

Thank you for sharing this exquisite work of art. The artist truly did capture her inner turmoil, and she remained beautiful as always.

[@melwitzfolino3941]

So sad this portrait 🙏💋

[@marvellousmartha07]

Wonderful and truer version of Diana. I love this

[@mariapilarme]

I wish she would be smiling because she had a beautiful smile. Thanks it’s a great portrait!

[@gillsharp9249]

This is so moving! There are not even many photos which capture her inner sadness as strikingly as this. In the last few years of her life, she put on such a brave public face. Thank you so much Philip for sharing this. I’m quite overwhelmed 😢

[@luciemedici]

This painting is just so much more 🌸

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

An incredibly sad rendering of the spirit of Princess Diana at that time in her life. For an artist to capture the insubstantial and render it visible is a mark of genius. Tears are just beneath the paint layer.

[@nitwit4947]

Loose brush marks loaded with emotion. Thanks, have not seen it before.

[@SuperSusieW]

Such a beautiful portrait. She looks so wistful.

[@antheablackmore5838]

This portrait is utterly spellbinding, breathtaking…..and so very poignant

[@LarWolkan]

Great! Really wonderful!

[@NyanyiC]

Dear Philip, when are you going to release more episodes of the show you do with Fiona.? Thanks to you guys I learned a new word - provenance - I used it whenever I can now😊

[@k.y.6148]

Is there any way to get copies of this, even a cheap poster? I have never been so moved by a painting in my life, speaking as a 60 year old US male. The painter is one of the best painters ever, to catch her inner feelings like this. And the photo of her laughing and at the same time, recording her inner being, is riveting as well. Thanks so much for this video!

[@ivorytower99]

I would look into the primary market, asking this of the artist.
Or one can always have a giclee of the image created on canvas. Personally, I don't hang giclees in my home.... But I would, if it was of this portrait.

[@Minecraft-pj4hm]

Whatever the truths and untruths of the Salvator Mundi by Leonardo: I would rather spend the 450 million dollars on the unfinished painting of Princess Diana - with the deepest respect, what a Queen Consort she would be today.