The Last King of Portugal and other stories

Stunning exhibition at Marlborough Fine Art of recent work by Paulo Rego.

The show included pictures telling the story of the last king of Portugal as the title suggested but also pictures illustrating “The Relic” by Eca de Quieroz and a folk tale called “Stone Soup”. They were all bold and colourful with feeling of Renaissance frescos.

The pictures were packed full of story. One of the first ones you see has a dinner party with an older lady and four priests. One of the priests prays at a shrine in one corner. Behind the figures is “Our Lady of Sorrows” another picture by Rego which hangs behind you. You brain starts to try to work out the story and questions elements of the picture.

The “Stone Soup” pictures were smaller and more delicate and I loved “Foraging” one of the first in a series which gave the impression of someone paddling and things in water really beautifully.

But best of all was the sequence on the true story of the last king of Portugal. I loved a large red picture of his wedding complete with church wall painting at his mother in a big hat. My favourite though was one of the king escaping the country in a rowing boat with a wonderful turquoise sea and a large cliff looming behind it. A really striking picture.

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