Seeing British actor Richard Armitage in this black suede coat from his July 2011 Project Magazine photo shoot [(1) right] makes me think of warmth. In Spring, warmth is starting to come back to us. In Summer, we don’t need warmth because we have an abundance of it. In Autumn, we still take warmth for granted. But “now is the Winter of our discontent made glorious Summer by this” intense Richard Armitage portrait.
Who doesn’t recognize the original quote of this line as coming from the William Shakespeare play, Richard III? Here is the original line and Wikipedia’s description [(2) below] of its significance within the play:
“The play begins with Richard describing the accession to the throne of his brother, King Edward IV of England, eldest son of the late Richard, Duke of York.
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
(“sun of York” is a punning reference to the badge of the “blazing sun,” which Edward IV adopted, and “son of York”, i.e., the son of the Duke of York.)
The speech reveals Richard’s jealousy and ambition, as his brother rules the country successfully.” [(2)]
We have all been suitably schooled about the above related history of King Richard III [(3) picture above right] and what we have read in William Shakespeare’s Richard III play–that he was a baddie, not the least of which was due to him supposedly killing his nephews. That really would be beyond the pale. But is that the true historical record? British Actor Richard Armitage has long indicated his interest in reclaiming the heritage and accomplishments of King Richard III–for whom Mr. Armitage is named–by producing a new film about King Richard III at some time in the future.
Here is a video by faboamanto pulling together Richard Armitage’s statements in interviews about his hoped for King Richard III Project [(4) below]:
“Richard Armitage Talks about Richard III – King Richard Armitage Week Aug22-28, 2011” by faboamanto
And Richard Armitage fan CDoart has taken up this cause by encouraging other RA fans–who are also being supportive of Mr. Armitage’s artistic and historical goals–by sharing historical corrections, by highlighting King Richard III’s governing achievements
, by signing a petition indicating fan interest for potential financial backers for the artistic project, and by creating and showcasing new fan artwork and such at her web site King Richard Armitage found at http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/ [(5) and banners above right and below].
So, you might click the link to head over to CDoart’s web site to find out more about the King Richard Armitage (KRA) web site’s supportive efforts. I signed the petition months ago. And I’m delighted to see that there are even more fans indicating their interest in Mr. Armitage’s hoped for artistic project now. And if you want to find out more about the connection Richard Armitage has with King Richard III–Richard Armitage’s birth date is significant–please visit the King Richard Armitage web site.
Besides, couldn’t we all rally behind this nobly fierce Richard Armitage as King Richard III as depicted in Daria GizTheGunslinger’s beautiful pencil drawing rendering [(6) right]?
P.S. And for more artwork and videos by Daria GizTheGunslinger, please visit:
http://gizthegunslinger.deviantart.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/GizTheGunslinger?feature=mhee
References
(1) Portrait of Richard Armitage from his July 2011 Project Magazine photoshoot was found at http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Richard/Promos/ProjectMagJuly2011/album/slides/ProjectMag-07.html
(2) “Richard III”, a play by William Shakespeare; with more information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_III_(play)
(3) Richard III image on King Richard Armitage website http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/ is courtesy of wikimedi.org
(4) “Richard Armitage Talks about Richard III – King Richard Armitage Week Aug 22-28, 2011”, a video compilation of various interviews by faboamanto was found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7DgHQuzK88
(5) For more information about the King Richard Armitage project, visit CDoart’s web site at http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/ ; and the two banner graphics may also be found there.
(6) King Richard III pencil Drawing by GizTheGunslinger in November 2011 and shared on RANet at http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/artwork/RIII-Giz.jpg
Something About Love (A) 
Thank you very much, Gratiana. You took one of my favourite of the late RA pictures from photo-shoots. He looks so much like protecting his heart, not only fending off the cold.
That immediately awakens all my protective instincts ;o)
Thank you for your wonderful support of King Richard Armitage and your lovely presentation here !!! Daria’s King Richard really could raise an army. “For our King Richard! – Long may he reign!” ;o)
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Hi CDoart,
Thanks for your very nice note! I’m delighted to lend my support to your wonderful project–supporting Richard Armitage’s artistic goal of producing a biopic of Richard III.
And as you say, Daria’s KR3/KRA artwork is stunning! And it should be enjoyed by more people. So, I’m happy to showcase it here.
Cheers! Grati ;->
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Good morning Grati,
This project is so worth supporting. Before signed the petition I asked if people of all countries could participate. (Then I thought RA’s intention was to make a stage play, not a movie.) The answer was yes, so I did it happily. :)
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Good morning Fabi,
I agree. Supporting this project is especially worthwhile. Not only would Richard Armitage get to move into producing–something that he has said he would like to do eventually–but he would have more influence over the tone and direction of the project. He has such an artistic gift for storytelling that he would make this a riveting tale.
Cheers! Grati ;->
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Thank you, Gratiana, for spotlighting CDoart and the cause of Richard Plantagent. I wonder if a barrier to producing a non-Tudor version of Richard III, is partly embedded in English mythology. Every nation has its mythologies as identity. Bad King John is Bad King John. (he probably wasn’t a great hero. But his brother was not necessarily a great ENGLISH king, either, yet enjoys Hero status in the cultural consciousness.) Apart from Northern England, Richard III does not enjoy a high rep. Maybe he was responsible for his nephews’s deaths, maybe he was just too pre-occupied with bringing the civil war to an end, and had the Henry II outburst of “Who will rid me…”) Whatever, he deserves a betting hearing and lawful trial than has been culturally presented.
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Hi Fitzg,
Thanks for your note. Hmmm. With regard to the Tudors vs the Plantagenets, maybe the Brits don’t think Richard III will be as sexy a romp as their “The Tudors” miniseries was detailing the wives, lovers, and exploits of Henry the 8th. Ha!
Although, I’d pit a Richard III portrayed with less gratuitous sex by Richard Armitage against the sexually promiscuous Henry the 8th portrayed by Jonathan Rhys Meyers any day of the week.
Cheers! Grati ;->
P.S. Though exploring state marriages of the nobility in R3’s time would be an interesting dynamic. Was there tenderness, affection, love? Oh be still my beating heart to ponder Richard Armitage as Richard III in a period appropriate doublet. Ha!
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BETTER hearing. Oh typo-land! :)
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Giggle, I thought Olivier’s Richard rather – sexy. Spider to fly. He did move like a spider – or what is the quote from the play – something about crab and sidewise? Gisborne to Marian. Without the gratuitous hunch back.
As for JRM and The Tudors, found it just great fun. A super Henry was the ’70s series with Keith Michel – the Six Wives of..He was certainly the most physically similar to Henry VIII – terrific supporting cast, too. I prize my DVD! But yes, from Daughter of Time at about 14, to joining a branch of the Richard III Society, to reading history ever since, I confess to not being certain about the nephews, it was a time of war, civil war, and Richard ought to have a fair hearing – his record in the North, and his relationship with his brother the King, must suggest a more interesting character. And one who might have been a good king, though perhaps more a product of the medieval world, than of the early English Renaissance. (Oh, really, just one of my “bandwagons” – shut up fitz. :0 )
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Hi Fitzg,
Since Richard Armitage is such a masterful storyteller, I think that “his” Richard III will be great! We’ll keep our fingers crossed that RA gets to proceed with his KR3 project in the future.
Cheers! Grati ;->
P.S. I also liked the Keith Michel version of Henry the 8th that I watched on PBS when I was a teen. The bits of the more recent “The Tudors” that I saw seemed to have a lot of gratuitous female nudity–breasts were everywhere. Ha! And I think one can suggest sensuality without requiring actresses to bare their breasts all the time. They’ll catch a cold, if nothing else. Ha!
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Dear Readers,
Crikey! I just topped over 20,000 views on my little blog here! I guess I’ll have to stop referring to it as “little”. Ha! Thanks everyone! I’m just thrilled by my viewer response.
Cheers! Grati ;->
P.S. Let’s Party! Here’s a fun little video of Kool and the Gang singing “Celebration”, circa 1980; video by fritz51313
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Congratulations!
Thank you for classy entertainment,Grati!<3
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Hi Joanna,
Thanks for your very nice note. I try to maintain a ladylike decorum here on my blog–themes of heartfelt love and sensuality don’t have to be salacious in my view, as you can tell from my perspectives and stories shared here on my blog.
And when I let a little of my tame sauciness peek through? Well, on those occasions, just think of me as “Gratiana After Dark”. Ha!
Cheers! Grati ;->
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1/27/12–Update: Christine Doart (King Richard Armitage Blog) interviews Maria Grazia (Fly High Blog) about her Richard III historical essays, resources, and such. Here is that link for you:
http://kingrichardarmitage.rgcwp.com/2012/01/25/maria-grazia-of-fly-high-and-king-richard-iii/
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