Royals

Controversial Artist Debuts New Painting of Pregnant Princess Kate Outside St. Mary's Hospital (PHOTO)

"The satire is quite soft," Mar says of his new work

Published on April 26, 2015 07:10 PM

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Is it satire, or is it art?

That’s what royal watchers are wondering about the new painting of Princess Kate on show for the first time by controversial British artist Kaya Mar.

The 59-year-old professional landscape and portraitist was criticized after his 2013 portrayal of Kate, 33, showed the first-time mom in a less than glamorous light, nursing her newborn prince.

Now the Spanish-born artist, who has lived in England for 40 years and whose work has just been exhibited at Gallery Eight in London’s Prestigious Mayfair Fine Art district, is back with a new take on the royal while the world awaits the birth of her second child.

“She can’t answer back, so the satire is quite soft,” Mar said outside St. Mary’s Hospital on Sunday. “I’m not really making fun of the princess, but of the way we all look at her.”

Mar and his painting, which measures 30 x 60 inches, have been repeat visitors to the hospital over the last several days, among the gathering crowd awaiting the birth of the next royal baby. This weekend, he trekked to the hospital from his home in east London.

Mar described Kate as “a 21st-century saint.”

“Diana [Princess of Wales] was, too. But she died, and the British are a very emotional people,” he says.

Mar says he usually paints politicians. They often want to buy their portraits, but Mar won’t always sell because, he says, he wants his work to be seen by as many people as possible.

Next to be immortalized on canvas are Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton, he says.

“They are like American royalty,” he says, “American presidential dynasties.”

Keep reading People.com for more on the royal birth.