The Ambiguous Queen Kylantha (Legends)
Kylantha was installed as a puppet ruler in 18 BBY after her predecessor, Apailana, was killed on the orders of the Galactic Empire for allegedly harbouring Jedi survivors of Order 66. Unlike previous monarchs, Kylantha had exceeded her two terms of office by the time of the Battle of Yavin. Kylantha was eventually replaced by Queen Mairayni.
On the canopy behind Kylantha are two symbols, one of Rebellion, the other of Empire, it was added as the Queen's loyalties actually were rather ambiguous. Outwardly, she was supportive of the Empire, but inwardly she appeared to be sympathetic to the Rebellion. (Moreover, it was discovered that Emperor Palpatine saw to it that the Queen remained loyal to the Empire by making it appear as if the Rebellion were performing unethical acts.) Painter decided to underline this uncertainness by hiding one of Kylantha’s palms behind her back (What is she holding? A gun? A holo-message? A flower? Something else?).
Not much suggest that the lady on the painting is the Naboo Queen. She has Naboo royal crest at the bottom of her costume and she is shown in a royal room, while her predecessors usually were presented in extravagant dresses and had a white-red make-up, Kylantha has much simpler clothes and hair. The Queen actually often was seen in such costumes. She ruled during the Empire Era, when the fashion was not so elaborated as in times of Republic and practicality had a higher value.
On the left of Kylantha, we can see a holo-projector with a part of Naboo system, as it is connected with a legend surrounding the Queen - at one point it was said that a young and wealthy suitor, in an attempt to win her heart in marriage, purchased a quadrant of the Naboo system. However, Kylantha politely refused his offer, saying that she had "married" her people and wished to serve them with all of her time. Heartbroken, the suitor renamed the quadrant "Kylantha's Whim."
Indeed, not only Kylantha was devoted to her people, but also to representatives of other races - she invited the Ewok Chief Chirpa and his tribe to come to Naboo and also initiated a rescue party to freed her Wookiee friends from Imperial prison. The painter decided to present it in a subtle way - by red flowers in the lady’s hand, which are called ‘Queen’s Heart’.
Queen Amidala | Queen Jamilia | Queen Neeyutnee | Queen Apailana | Sosha Soruna | Queen Réillata | Queen Mairayni | Queen Sanandrassa | Queen Kylantha | Sabé - The Decoy Queen | Queen Yram | Queen Dalné | The Gungan-Naboo War Queen of Naboo | Queen of Naboo from the New Republic | King Jafan I Star Tours Queen of Naboo | King Veruna | The First Queen of Naboo | King Tapalo | Queen Ameé | Queen Ekay | King Jafan III | The Queen of beaded emblems | King Narmlé | Queen of Naboo from High Republic | Queen Elsinoré den Tasia
#star wars paintings | SW Paintings
Send me idea for next painting :)
