Elton John ('On the throne')
- Artist: Suzi Malin
- Date: 1978
- Medium: tempera
- Dimensions: 16 in. x 13 3/4 in. (406 mm x 349 mm)
- Portrays: Sir Elton John (Reginald Kenneth Dwight)
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is Suzi Malin’s portrait “Elton John (‘On the throne’)” from 1978. You see Sir Elton John seated regally, a gleaming gold‑leaf backdrop framing his figure—like a saint or monarch in a classic panel painting. The gold leaf glints where light hits it, giving the portrait that bright, almost jewel‑tinted look. The paint is tempera on a gesso‑prepared board, so colors stay crisp and the surface slightly textured.
The sitter’s pose is relaxed but commanding; his glasses sit neatly over a smile that hints at both his stage charisma and off‑stage personality. Malin chose gold leaf deliberately: it echoes the historic way royalty were portrayed, while also nodding to John’s pop‑star stature and flamboyant glamour. The portrait captures him not just as a musician but as an icon of LGBTQ+ equality.
See it in person
Elton John ('On the throne') is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
