New portraits of Spanish royals by Annie Leibovitz unveiled

The portraits are presented as part of an exhibition on watches at the Banco de España. ‘The Tyranny of Chronos’ features a selection of clocks and watches from the bank’s collection, “made by artists from diverse backgrounds and historical moments, who question and transgress the hegemonic conception of time in Western society.”

As part of the exhibition, there will be the formal presentation of two new portraits of King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, taken by Annie Leibowitz.

American photographer Leibowitz, known for her famous shots of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and her many frontpage images for magazines including Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue, has taken the first official photographic portraits of the reigning Spanish royalty.

The two photos are the latest addition to the bank’s collection and will be presented by the former governor, Pablo Hernández de Cos.

“Leibovitz’s proposal represents a turning point in a tradition that dates back to the institution’s origins, although it is in line with the tendency of creators such as Goya – also present in the exhibition – to approach these commissions from a full awareness of their artistic intentions,” the bank notes in a press release.