Creative director Francis Sultana is one of the protagonists to feature in renowned photographer Alistair Morrisson’s Actors’ Last Supper. Veronica Stivala finds out what it’s like to be immortalised in a work of art.
Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-century Last Supper is one of the world’s most famous paintings.
It is also one of the most studied, scrutinised and satirised, with some famous takes on it, including those by Salvador Dali, who portrayed Jesus as blonde and clean shaven, Andy Warhol, who created a cycle of silkscreens, paintings and works on paper and American cartoonist Bill Holbrook’s cartoon with Leonardo as a toddler in a fast-food restaurant.
Among the artists to add their own mark to this painting is reputable British photographer Alistair Morrisson.
The photographer has recreated a new version of his famous Actors’ Last Supper, currently hanging in the National Portrait Gallery.
This original includes Steven Berkoff, Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Tom Conti. His newest version features magician Dynamo, socialite Tamara Beckwith Veroni and renowned Maltese creative director Francis Sultana.
The photographic portrait, created especially for the gala, celebrates the key supporters of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The striking portrait was unveiled at a glittering social fund-raiser: the Neo-Romantic Art Gala at Masterpiece London that was held in June. Past themes have included surrealism and pop art.
Sultana, the only man in a coloured jacket, was not assigned a specific character for the piece and “it was just dependent on [their] choice of what [they] were all wearing and how [Morrisson] could see his composition working”.
Indeed, the only direction Sultana was given was that “you are the man with really great evening jackets – I don’t want you in a black one”.
Sultana has been on the board of NSPCC Rebuilding Childhoods for the past six years and he is also the creative director of the event. Originally from Gozo, Sultana is a furniture and interior designer based in London.
He is involved with the highest of the top in the design world and has worked for David Gill’s new gallery in Mayfair and the prestigious Pad London VIP restaurant.
His charity involvement also includes the Victoria and Albert Museum in London where he was recently appointed to the main development advisory board, which is chaired by Nicholas Coleridge, head of CondeNast.
The photographer has recreated a new version of his famous Actors’ Last Supper, currently hanging in the National Portrait Gallery
Speaking about being involved in this NSPCC charitable initiative, Sultana says:
“The NSPCC is very dear to my heart and this work was used to benefit the charity by raising funds and awareness. And, of course, we all had fun in the creation of this incredible photograph.”
This was the second time Sultana has sat for Morrisson. He says it is “very special” to be immortalised in any work of art. “I am just very happy the reason it happened was that we were all doing something to benefit vulnerable children in need of our support,” he says.
Morrisson has worked as a freelance editorial and fashion photographer for a number of publications, including The Sunday Times (of London), Observer and Vogue.
He specialises in portraits of celebrities and well-known prominent people. The photographer has had 82 photographs in the National Portrait Gallery, London, and has photographed icons such as Bette Davis, Sir Laurence Olivier and Helen Mirren. His work is on permanent display at his gallery, the Muse Gallery.
Speaking about his original the Actor’s Last Supper, he notes how it is “heavily influenced by the anxiety and passion of the Leonardo Da Vinci original masterpiece. There is movement in the photograph with expressive hands and troubled faces. Jesus has clearly expressed his doubt as to the loyalty of one of his followers and created a tension around the table”.
In his NSPCC version, “everything is in control, with a quietness which expresses the calm of everybody’s role as charity fundraisers”. Morrison explains how he allowed each individual to dominate their space without any reference from one to another.
“The drama is in the perception of the magician Dynamo levitating, which creates a biblical reference. The calm nature of this photograph is in complete contrast to the obvious tension in the original.”
In addition to being featured in Morrisson’s piece, Sultana, along with Nikki Tibbles from Wild At Heart, designed the decor for the gala event.
The two created a romantic forest of tree canopies and hanging lanterns, under which guests sat. Dark red flowers, bronze and silver metallic vases and cut glass crystal hurricane lamps filled the tables.
The live auction, hosted by Sotheby’s, featured pieces donated by contemporary artists including Mat Collishaw, Antony Gormley and Edward Ruscha.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Mariella Frostrup, The Neo-Romantic Art Gala guests included Sir Michael Caine, Patrick Cox, David Furnish, Toni Garrn, Naomie Harris, Eva Herzigova, Giles Deacon and Roland Mouret.
Guests could also bid for the chance for Morrison to recreate his iconic Actors’ Last Supper photograph. The event will en-able the NSPCC to continue its work with children affected by sexual abuse, helping them to recover through a range of therapies, including play therapy.