Top Selling Pictures

Queen Elizabeth II by Pietro Annigoni in the ILN

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth (born 1926), by Pietro Annigoni 1953.
Pietro Annigoni (7 June 1910 to 28 October 1988) was an Italian portrait and fresco painter, who became world famous after painting Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.
His work bore the influence of Italian Renaissance portraiture, and was in contrast to the modernist and post-modernist artistic styles that dominated the middle and late twentieth century. He was known for his romantic portrayal of the young Queen Elizabeth II in 1956, as well as for his portraits of Pope John XXIII, US Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, the Shah and Empress of Iran, Princess Margaret and several other members of the British royal family.
Pietro Annigoni was chosen by TIME magazine to paint President of the United States John F. Kennedy for the (January 5) 1962 Person of the Year cover. The result was perhaps his worst portrait as Kennedy would not sit still and Annigoni had no time or inclination to satisfy Time magazine. Other TIME magazine covers that featured portraits by Annigoni were the issues of October 5, 1962 (Pope John XXIII), November 1, 1963 (Ludwig Erhard), and April 12, 1968 (Lyndon B. Johnson).
Other subjects around the world that Annigoni painted include HRH Prince Phillip and several other members of the House of Windsor as well as the shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo, Florentine author Luigi Ugolini, ballet legend Dame Margot Fonteyn, British actress Julie Andrews, Russian ballet star Rudolf Nureyev, American actress and poet Vanna Bonta as a girl, and the Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. An outspoken artist who did not refrain from iconoclasm toward his perception of passing or superficial social trends, Annigoni wrote essays challenging modern art that disregarded the basic ability to draw. He alienated critics, who claimed his art was too representational, discounting the unique dramatic signature the artist brought to Renaissance tradition

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10511403

Giant World Map

This extra-large map of the world is based on the Mercator Projection and is ideal for both business and educational purposes, or even simply as a stunning wall display. The exceptionally clear format shows political boundaries with each country depicted in a different vibrant colour to its immediate neighbours. The world map is further enhanced by coloured relief and ocean depth depictions, thus adding a striking textured effect and providing an element of physical representation to this political map. International time zones are depicted along the bottom of the map. Cities are depicted in five population bands, and the map also shows principal roads and railways, international boundaries (indicating those which are disputed) as well as state boundaries within countries. Capital cities of both countries and states are displayed, and international airports and seaports are shown

© Map Marketing Ltd

Her Majestys Australian Ship (HMAS) Melbourne (21)

Her Majestys Australian Ship (HMAS) Melbourne (21) shown with its complement of Douglas A-4G Skyhawks of 805 Squadron RAN ranged for entering port, along with Westland Sea King Mk.50s of 817 Squadron RAN behind. HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1955 until 1982:- Namesake: City of Melbourne Ordered:1943 Builder: Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness Laid down:15 April 1943 Launched:28 February 1945 as HMS MajesticChristened:26 October 1955 as HMAS Majestic Commissioned:28 October 1955 as HMAS Melbourne Decommissioned:30 May 1982 Motto:Vires Acquirit Eundo Latin: She Gathers Strength As She Goes Honours and awards:Battle honours:Malaysia 1965-66plus two inherited honoursFate:Sold for scrap Date: 1970s

© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library