Thursday 17 January 2013


In case you're wondering, it looks like somebody's best effort at evening classes.
Or possibly something like this.

12 comments:

mary said...

There was a lot of snorting from people standing in front of it, Sue!

Anonymous said...

Who is it please, Mary?

mary said...

No sarcasm, Toffeeapple, that's too cruel!

Anonymous said...

She's got to be gutted. She looks hideous. Though frankly it is a fair likeness - she looks about 10 years older than she is anyway!

mary said...

Makeup applied with a trowel, Rachel - very obviously so in the engagement photos on display nearby.

Anonymous said...

No Mary, I have no idea who it is.

mary said...

Oh, dear, I thought it was at least recognisable, Toffeeapple - it's Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. You are clearly not an avid follower!

Anonymous said...

Oh! I saw the wedding, I admit but haven't seen her since then. The portrait looks, um, chubby?

Thank you for the clarification.

lizzie said...

I dont really like this portrait; she looks strained, like she does nt really know how to look. Her mouth is set and the eyes are a bit creepy.

mary said...

It's no better when you see it in the flesh, Lizzie. The artist had two sittings which I suppose is normal for a royal portrait, but doesn't seem long enough to get a feeling of the sitter.
I was eavesdropping on other people's comments - and it seems to be thumbs down all round.

artlover1949 said...

such a shame that this first portrait is a missed opportunity..in some of the coverage there is film showing the artist with the photographs he took to copy from..they looked quite nice..something went wrong..the dark background doesnt help and making it larger than life size makes her face look all puffy..the Testino photos capture her spirit far more accurately

mary said...

Hello Artlover, yes, I agree the Testino photos are much better. And it's rather odd that the soft focus of the painting should be so unflattering. What a missed opportunity - given her degree in art history - that she didn't choose a more adventurous artist.