First state-commissioned portrait of Blair shows a PM 'knackered, tired and fed up'It was nearing the end of his 10 years in power, so perhaps it's no surprise that Tony Blair Noun 1. Tony Blair - British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, Blair should look so, well, exhausted. It will also be the image future generations of parliamentarians will look on: the first state-commissioned portrait of the former prime minister. Blair always pointedly refused to sit for artists while in office and finally agreed only towards the end of his tenure in June 2007. The portrait unveiled yesterday was commissioned by the Commons advisory committee on art and shows a man who has been through the mill and is now in contemplative mood. The work, by figurative artist Phil Hale Philip Oliver Hale, born in 1963, [1]is an American Figurative painter who currently resides in London, England. Prior to turning to fine arts he worked as an illustrator, doing mostly figurative work. He studied under Rick Berry and alongside with Jon Foster. , was painted before the only other official portrait of Blair, by Jonathan Yeo Jonathan Yeo (b. 1970) is a British artist, known for his distinctive portraits that combine photographic realism with a painterly touch. He was the official artist of the 2001 British General Election, creating the likenesses of all three of the main party leaders in a triptych , which was commissioned by Lincoln's Inn Lincoln's Inn: see Inns of Court. . Hugo Swire Hugo George William Swire (born 30 November 1959) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was educated at Eton, and attended the University of St Andrews before going to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. , the Tory chairman of the committee that commissioned the portrait, said it was the most important painting to be added to the parliamentary collection in recent years. "It's an extraordinary picture. It shows Blair towards the end and he is looking absolutely exhausted and very contemplative. That's not the Tony Blair you see today." Swire said he approached Hale after being bowled over by the artist's portrait of the composer Thomas Adès in the National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery can refer to:
He said the artist had been allowed to carry out the commission as he wished. "The only discussion was whether he should wear a tie." It is understood that Blair's wife, Cherie, has seen the portrait and approves - although she feels it does not reflect him as he is now, unshackled by the burdens of power. Jonathan Jones, the Guardian's visual arts critic, said that the portrait certainly had gravitas grav·i·tas n. 1. Substance; weightiness: a frivolous biography that lacks the gravitas of its subject. 2. , but Blair also looked "knackered knackered slang for being so exhausted or decrepit that a horse is suitable only for the knacker's yard. , tired and fed up". He added: "Both the portraits of Blair feel more honest than anything he has said about how he was feeling towards the end of his term in power." Hale, who painted Blair at Chequers as well as using photographs, said: "I saw my role as a documentarist, and tried - accordingly - to remain as transparent a presence as possible. "Blair himself was very accommodating. I was lucky that he had more pressing concerns than prettifying himself for a picture. I think we were well-balanced in that sense. He didn't perform, and I didn't divine." The portrait will hang in Portcullis House and will eventually hang in the Palace of Westminster itself. 
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