Kofi Annan portrait by John Keane unveiled at the UN
Published: 15 October, 2010
by PETER GRUNER
ISLINGTON artist John Keane had to miss the special unveiling of his highly praised portrait of “personal hero”, the former United Nations peace keeper, Kofi Annan, in America this week.
Mr Keane, from Highbury Hill, said he couldn’t justify “time and expense” for the trip to the UN offices in New York, although he was pleased that the painting had been so well received.
He added: “Unfortunately, times being tight, the UN were unable to pay for my trip – otherwise I might have gone.”
The painting was unveiled by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday.
Mr Keane was one of a number of British artists recommended to the UN for the commission by the National Portrait Gallery. He was also official British artist during the Gulf War.
“I was delighted to receive the commission,” said Mr Keane. “Kofi Annan is remembered as a man who always tried to stop the world going to war and is a particular hero of mine.”
Mr Annan visited the artist in his studio three times last year. “I spent a couple of hours photographing and then painting him. We even went to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, 15, off City Road, for lunch one day."
Mr Keane described Mr Annan, who became a fixture on TV, as possessing in the flesh that same recognisable “grace, dignity and authority”.