Dawn French has revealed the revealing painting of her that she has hanging on the bedroom wall which leaves little to the imagination

Dawn French has revealed a nude painting of herself that she has hanging on her bedroom wall which leaves little to the imagination.

The 66-year-old Vicar of Dibley star said she’s totally in love with the artwork and now has it in pride of place. lime

“He had painted me entirely in blue with the most magnificent t**s. It’s the most wonderful painting,” she gushed.

The reveal had been a surprise to Dawn as she’d been fully clothed during the sitting with artist Peter Howson and did not expect for him to reveal her as nature intended in the final version. lime

Speaking to MailOnline, Dawn said that was wearing a “lovely dress” and was “laid on a chaise longue” so was rather surprised when the artist returned a week later with a 12ft by 10ft portrait that revealed a lot more about her than she had expected when she agreed to pose.

The artist usually sells his painting for as much as £30,000 but Dawn did not reveal the fee for her portrait, though it is believed to be in the thousands. lime

Howson offered Dawn the 12ft by 10ft artwork but his agents insisted the comedian pay for it, although she did not reveal how much. Speaking about the artwork, Dawn said: “I did not want that painting to go to someone else. I’ve got it in my bedroom, but I do feel a bit embarrassed if someone has to come round. I always feel like saying ‘I actually had a dress on – those are not my actual t**s, although I’d be very pleased if they were’.” lime

Dawn said that he painted her as she interviewed him for a South Bank Show about voluptuous women in culture and when they had finished talking, he showed that he had drawn a faithful representation of Dawn in her dress. So it was quite a surprise when the finished version was revealed.

The comedian said about that moment: “So they take the cover off the painting and there’s me naked. But this is exactly what he was explaining [in the documentary] that with people like Rubens, the women were not naked when they painted them, very often. They imagined the flesh.” lime

Dawn said she told the artist: “It’s really plumptuous. ‘If only I had t**s like that! Just as well it was from your imagination – who do you know?”

It seems that Dawn French’s nude portrait has caused quite a stir. The 66-year-old actress is proud of the artwork, which portrays her in a bold and revealing light. Despite the surprise of the final version, Dawn is happy to display the painting in her bedroom.

Artist Peter Howson’s decision to paint Dawn in such a manner is a reflection of his artistic style. The 12ft by 10ft portrait captures Dawn’s essence in a unique and powerful way. While the painting is certainly eye-catching, Dawn remains somewhat bashful about sharing it with others. lime

The artistic process behind the portrait is quite intriguing. Dawn’s initial sitting in a “lovely dress” on a chaise longue led to a surprising reveal in the final painting. The contrast between Dawn’s clothed appearance during the interview and the nude depiction in the artwork adds an extra layer of complexity to the piece.

Despite the initial shock, Dawn seems to have embraced the painting and its unconventional portrayal of her. The artwork serves as a reminder of the beauty of interpretation and the power of artistic expression.