“We are not the ones indicated to value them … what do you think?”

The kings with Annie Leibovitz, the best photographer in the world, the same that signed the snapshots of Queen Elizabeth IIJohn Lennon and the Rolling Stones. Between the royal and the rocker, Leibovitz’s rubric is unrepeatable. We have attended the presentation of the portraits of Don Felipe and Mrs. Letizia by the author. An unrepeatable integral work of art. Therefore, the first visit of their majesties to this exhibition, The tyranny of chronos From the Bank of Spain, he was long as expected. It took place this Wednesday, February 26 in the morning. The media we were here, in the sample, we have seen it that way.

Fast, fleeting and intense. The presentation took place in a small room with an immense table in the center covered with watches that are part of this exhibition, The tyranny of chronos. Between the bustle of the press, the flashes of the photographers and the security team, the kings have answered the question of their opinion about the portraits: “We are not the ones indicated to value it …”Don Felipe has slipped on Leibovitz’s work. And what do you think? “What do you think?” Mrs. Letizia continued with a gesture of admiration and approval.

During his encounter, the monarch explained with gestures the continuity of the two images that, when placing them together, configure a single scene. Enchanted and very happy, they have commented in English with the author their impression and memories of that session that took place in February last year. It has been a reunion of 20 minutes and now. At the end, from the bank they have told us that this presentation was planned for November, but it has finally been delayed three months.

The king does not look at the camera

The artist, Prince of Asturias Award, portrayed the kings in the Gasparini room of the Royal Palace in a work session of almost five hours. Leibovitz recreated a royal, cinematographic and monumental scene, with a delicious environmental invoice in nuances, textures, lights, shadows and glitters. The entertainment walls, the white light that sneaks through the balcony and the upholstered chair. All are details. Curious composition in which kings pose separately and not together and do so in an enigmatic visual continuity that, when together, a new integral image is formed. Those were the photos that were chosen for the Banco de España collection. And they are the ones that the kings have contemplated here, in this historic building of the Bank of Spain, which we have accessed through the Recoletos Gate.

We have seen the imposing inn from the Head of the State, dressed in the uniform of great label of the Army of Earth. The monarch does not look at the photographer’s goal. It transmits serenity, knowing how and strength. The decorations that it looks, symbol of the institution that represents, increase the solemnity of its image. It carries the gold toison, the collar of the real and distinguished order of Carlos III and the Great Military Merit, Naval Merit and Aeronautical Merit.

Letizia, with her eternal love ring

Doña Letizia, with a vintage of Balenciaga in black, holds with her hands a chal in XL format that slides through her arms. We only see one arm because the queen has placed almost profile, about 45º degrees in front of the lens, not like her husband, who poses in front. It does not carry decorations. Instead looks in the index the coretern ring, symbol of love. A job, of impeccable artistic invoice, for which its author received from the Bank of Spain 137,000 euros, as published.