The bridal prayer of Princess Grace is portrayed in this painting. Why should I return to April 19, 1956? I do so to find one of America's most successful actresses and singers, who courageously left Hollywood success to marry Prince Rainier, whom she had known for only two weeks!
This subject captured my imagination and filled me with questions. Why? Perhaps it was the princess’s sincere prayer of faith for the Lord's blessing on her marriage. Maybe it was my admiration for her elaborate yet modest wedding gown with its ornate complexity. It even may have been the challenge of depicting the subtle emotion within her as she considered the life of commitment and dedication that lay before her. Although it is difficult to discern my precise inspiration, I realized that the painting would be a major challenge as I scrutinized the black and white photo that was slightly out of focus, and which also distorted the length and proportion of her arm. Its close cropping eliminated crucial parts of her headpiece and veil as well.
Despite these limitations, I felt a need to bring this momentous royal event into living color, transposing the grays into natural hues. I wanted to show the clarity of each and every one of the myriad of baby pearls on the dress. The baroque pattern in the gown and the headpiece were exceptionally complex. An artist's eye must observe, memorize, and carry this kind of detailed information to the canvas with a steady hand and fine brushes. It was definitely worth the six months I spent painting the impossible in order to honor the memory, marriage, faith, and solemn meditation of Princess Grace.
The gold frame was fashioned particularly for this portrait and is worthy of a palace or museum. After gifting each of her children: Albert II, Caroline, and Stephanie, with a photograph of their mother’s portrait, I enjoyed hearing back from the family. They told me they “greatly appreciated the bridal depiction of their beloved mother.”
