Rachel Reeves has introduced abstract artworks to commemorate the Covid -Lockdowns to replace paintings by former prime ministers in No 11 Downing Street.
Before Labor came to power, the lush state room was filled with portraits of princes and former chancellors David Lloyd George and Benjamin Disraeli.
But these canvases have now been exchanged by the current head of the treasury for conceptual images of social distance and Covid fear, De Telegraaf has reported.
The new pieces, made by artist Donna Coleman, have formed a human head by a red squiggle and a charcoal vertebral with a black square.
These interior changes come after Mrs Reeves ordered the removal of all photos of men from No. 11 after the election victory of Labor last summer.
Sir Keir Starmer had also removed the portrait of Margaret Thatcher from neighboring no. 10 after reportedly found the image of the first female prime minister 'disturbing' of Great Britain.
This decision was heavily criticized by the Tories, which they described as 'pathetic gesture politics'.
The prime minister led to further recoil when he removed a portrait of William Shakespeare from the wall, which led to accusations that he “collapsed at the usual left -wing shame about our past.”
The work of Donna Coleman, entitled Covid Anxiety 5 (Mask Disorder), shows a human head formed by a red squiggle and now hangs in the offices of No. 11
A marble bust of former Chancellor and Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli by Charles Bell Birch was removed by Rachel Reeves
The interior changes come after Mrs. Reeves ordered the removal of all photos of men from the lush state room after the election victory of Labor last summer
Incoming ministers have the right to use one of the 15,000 works of art that are part of the government art collection to decorate their offices in any way they consider necessary.
The collection is often used to project British Soft Power during official visits.
Mrs. Reeves has selected two pieces from MS Coleman, entitled Covid Anxiety 5 (Masks disorder) and misunderstood, for display.
The artist said earlier that the paintings explore “how social media influence the well -being of people.”
In addition to her work, Mrs. Reeves has also chosen the pieces of portrait of a woman (invisible virus) numbers 46 and 47, part of a quarantine collage by the artist Lisa Fielding-Smith.
After the election profit of Labor, a portrait of Lloyd George, Chancellor from 1908 to 1915, Sir William Orpen was removed from the walls of No. 11. The liberal statesman would lead the land from 1916 to 1922.
A marble bust of Jewish conservative Peer Disraeli, who served as Chancellor several times and led British imperial policy twice as Prime Minister, was also removed by Charles Bell Birch.
In the meantime, a terracotta -bust by Charles James Fox, the radical Whig politician who served as a foreign secretary from 1803 to 1806, was also removed by officials.
Mrs. Reeves has selected two pieces from MS Coleman, entitled Covid Anxiety 5 (Mask Disorder) and misunderstood (depicted), for display
A portrait of Lloyd George, Chancellor from 1908 to 1915, was collected from the walls of No. 11 last summer
Portraits of James I and James II (photo) were also removed after the election profit from Labor
Portraits from James I and James II were also removed after Mrs. Reeves had moved to No. 11.
Instead, the Chancellor has installed a statue of suffragistic leader Millicent Fawcett and hung a portrait of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough.
The wife of the first Duke of Marlborough was depicted by Rachel Weisz in the film The Favorite As The Lover and friend of Queen Anne 2018.
In September 2024, Mrs. Reeves told a completely female reception at No. 11: 'This is King James behind me, but next week the artwork will change in this room.
“Every photo in this room will be of a woman or by a woman – and we will also have a statue in this room of (suffragist) Millicent Fawcett, who did so much for women's rights.”
The treasury is contacted for comment.
