A STRIKING painting of Her Majesty The Queen, identical to one which hangs in Colchester Town Hall, is up for auction.

The figure study by royal portrait painter Richard Stone is part of Reeman Dansie’s upcoming Royalty, Antiques and Fine Art Sale.

In the 25-by-19cm oil painting, an elegant Queen Elizabeth can be seen wearing state robes and a diamond diadem.

What makes it so iconic is its photorealism and black background.

It was painted from sittings at Buckingham Palace between 1989 and 1991, before a larger finished portrait was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery.

While the final portrait was gifted to Colchester Council by West Bergholt artist Mr Stone in 1992, the replica is expected to fetch between £600 and £800.

Gazette:

Other Royal artefacts will go under the hammer for an hour on Tuesday from 10am.

Some of the highest-priced items include a gold box decorated with an enamel portrait of HRH Prince George set at £2,000 to £2,500, and signed portraits of Prince Charles, which could fetch up to £700.

Quirkier lots feature Victorian civil service uniforms and a 19th century steel sword with etched blade.

Expert auctioneer James Grinter said: “Richard would have done several of these paintings of Queen Elizabeth before the major big work.

“It was part of the Richard Stone Notable Portraits exhibition in London, in 2004, where the owner had bought it.

“We’re hopeful it will do better than the reserve price.

“The royal section of the auction has a lot of treasured lots such as a hand-written letter by The Queen just two months into her reign after her father died.

“Miss Woggs, who she wrote the letter to, was the second Baron Lord Hothfield’s housekeeper and actually called Miss Ethel Taylor.

“She got the nickname because she would walk his dog Mr Woggles and the two princesses met her in Hamilton Gardens while out with their nannies.

“Royal lots always get a lot of interest from buyers and collectors in Canada and the US.

“There’s something for everyone.”

At age 22, in 1973, Mr Stone became the youngest commissioned royal portrait painter in almost 200 years.

The same painting was selected for one of six commemorative stamps to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

Former Colchester mayor Sir Bob Russell was instrumental in getting permission for Mr Stone to begin the portrait.

For more information, visit reemandansie.com.