Equestrian Portrait Of King Philip II 2010

"Equestrian Portrait of King Philip II" (2010) by Kehinde Wiley reimagines the traditional equestrian portrait. The artist's signature style, reminiscent of European Renaissance and Baroque painting, portrays the pop icon Michael Jackson as the Spanish monarch, King Philip II. Jackson is depicted riding a majestic white horse, adorned in ornate armor and a flowing blue cape, while cherubs hover above him. Wiley's work is a contemporary take on historical portraiture, challenging conventional notions of power and representation. This provocative artwork questions the role of race and celebrity in the construction of historical narratives.