Ralph Heimans

Ralph Heimans, AM, is an Australian-born contemporary portrait painter. He is best known for his Diamond Jubilee Portrait of Her Majesty The Queen. Heimans studied Fine Arts and Pure Mathematics at the University of Sydney and continued his art studies at the Julian Ashton Art School. In 1997 he moved to Paris to take up a commission from the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Contents

• Portrait of vladimir ashkenazy by australian artist ralph heimans
• Sydney artist to paint royal portrait
• References

His critically acclaimed portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, her first official portrait was unveiled in Frederiksborg Castle in 2006. It was praised for its multi-layered narrative and sophisticated treatment of the young princess..."a symphony of shadows."

Other recent subjects include musician and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, High Court Justice Michael Kirby, Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce and American Philanthropist, Darla Moore.

In 2012, Heimans was offered a sitting with Queen Elizabeth II to paint an official portrait for her Diamond Jubilee. The painting sitting with the Queen took place at Buckingham Palace, but is the portrait is set in Westminster Abbey, the site of her Coronation. It was first on display in the National Portrait Gallery of Australia until April 2013. where it drew record numbers of visitors to the gallery. Acquired by the Westminster Abbey in London for its permanent collection it was put on public display there in May 2013. In June the painting was damaged by a vandal, the extent of the damage is currently unclear. It is suspected the vandalism was an unofficial protest in favour of campaign group Fathers 4 Justice.

The painting went back on public display at Westminster Abbey on 16 July 2013.