Polish-Born Artist Feliks Topolski, 82; Painter of Royalty

Writer and artist Feliks Topolski, who painted royalty as well as battle scenes for the British government, has died at the age of 82.

The Polish-born Topolski, who lived in London, had been suffering from heart trouble and diabetes and died Thursday, said his son, Daniel.

He was made a member of London’s Royal Academy in recognition of his work, which included the 100-foot-long painting of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II for Buckingham Palace and the 60-foot by 20-foot Cavalcade of the Commonwealth, painted for the 1951 Festival of Britain.

As an official war artist for the British government from 1940-45, Topolski painted the Battle of Britain and other scenes. Drawings, watercolors and oil paintings by Topolski are owned by the British Museum, the Tate Gallery and galleries in New York, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Melbourne and Warsaw.