Royal holographer launches legal action over Queen portrait credit

Artist and holographer Rob Munday has launched legal proceedings against Chris Levine in a bid to be formally recognised as the joint author of the 2004 holographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, created to mark Jersey’s 800-year allegiance to the English Crown.

The portrait, originally commissioned by the Jersey Heritage Trust and the States of Jersey, was produced as a collaboration between Munday and Levine and became known as Equanimity. A 2005 agreement signed by all parties is said to have recognised Munday’s equal creative role and right to credit.

Munday, who has created holographic portraits of figures including Angelina Jolie, Karl Lagerfeld and Sir Michael Morpurgo, claims that Levine has since failed to credit him properly for the work.

His claim, filed earlier this month in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, seeks a declaration of joint authorship and an order for future acknowledgment.

The dispute follows a separate case earlier this year in which the Jersey Heritage Trust won damages against Levine over the unauthorised use of related works.

“Mr Munday does not hold any copyright in Equanimity or Lightness of Being. Jersey Heritage Trust, who commissioned the work, have publicly confirmed that I was the sole commissioned artist.”

In response to recent reports, Levine said: “Mr Munday does not hold any copyright in Equanimity or Lightness of Being. Jersey Heritage Trust, who commissioned the work, have publicly confirmed that I was the sole commissioned artist.”

Munday said his objective during the commission was “to create a starkly realistic portrait in a manner never before seen in royal portraiture.”