"Empty" pictures? Malfoy's Phineus and Split Personalities

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 95249

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at y...>
wrote:

> 
> Carol:
> Regarding portraits in the Malfoy mansion, why not another portrait of
> Phineas Nigellus since he's Narcissa's great-great-great-grandfather
> (or whatever) as wel as Sirius's. The only problem I have there is
> that he would have known all about Lucius Malfoy's plot to give Tom
> Riddle's diary to an innocent student and release the monster from the
> Chamber of Secrets. So I guess that idea is out. . . .
> 
> Carol


bboy_mn:

Oooooh.... That brings up an interesting thought. People have long
speculate on how Dobby could possibly so obviously defy his master
(Malfoy) and attempt to aid Harry.

Some speculate that there may be a blood link between the Malfoys and
the Potters which would give Harry some authority over Dobby, for example.

But what if it was Malfoy's portrait of Phineas Nigellus who overheard
Malfoy's Riddle's Diary plot, and told Dobby to protect Harry? That's
a extreme longshot, but now that Carol has pointed out the possibility
of Malfoy's Nigellus portrait it's a possibility. Although, while
possible, I'm not sure how probable.


Back to the suject of portrait in general...

I think that once a protrait is created, logically, from that point on
the portrait and the person portrayed live separate lives. They share
a common experience and personality, even beyond that they share a
common essense, but once the portrait is created, it lives a separate
life. 

True there still may be aspect of a common life between them, such as,
they may both live in the same house, they may converse with each
other, etc.... But if the person moves to France and lives for 5 years
before dying, the portrait does not share that experience, and can not
incorporate it into his personality beyond any information that is
relay to him, the portrait, by third parties.

To some extent, a portrait is very nearly a true living entity capable
of experiencing life and growing from that experience, but we must
understand the spending that life hanging on a wall severely limits
one's life experience.

So, the paintings are capapable of some degree of thoughtful analysis
and free thinking conversation, but only within the bound of their
initial 'portrait programming' and limited personal life experience.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn