Portraits - Additional: Actors Playing a Role

[Eustace_Scrubb]

No: HPFGUIDX 102107

Steve wrote:
> Portraits are actors in two senses; they are playing the role of the
person in the portrait and the are playing the role OF a portrait...I
...suspect that since they are actors portraying a role, they do to
some extent reflect the world's perceived belief in who they are. So a
wizard who was perceived to be evil, would reflect an essence of evil
in his portrait. Although, I think that would be more hinted at, his
real personality would dominate.

Then Donna:
With portraits, since they would be painted by wizards/witches, would
be enchanted someway to reflect the personality of the person
posing. And it would definately have to involve a living person.
How else would that person's personality be transferred. I don't
think that a "piece of the person" need be imbedded in the paint. At
least I don't recall that being said in any of the books. Unless JKR
actually said that in an interview, when a portrait is painted
it "captures" the essence of the person at the time it was painted.

Next owlery2003: 
Interesting theory, but I tend to think the "real person" is somehow
represented (and not by an "actor"). In DD's office, we see the former
headmasters, and I can't imagine they are anyone other than the "real"
thing. No idea how it happens (magic!), but their reactions/actions
don't suggest anything other. Phineas Nigellus is a good example, as
he turns from the snippy, dark headmaster-character to the concerned
distant relative when he learns that Sirius is dead. My two knuts!

And Eustace_Scrubb:
I think to some extent, all of you are right (and like Steve I can't
recall much canon, so we're in the realm of reasonable extrapolation
here).  Some of the paintings (Sir Cadogan, The Fat Lady) fit Steve's
vision of an actor playing a role.  Sometimes they're more like
characters in a genre painting rather than a formal portrait.  But
some are in fact formal portraits (Hogwarts headmasters, Black family
members) and they seem to have the whole personality as owlery2003
sees it.

And Donna points out that the magical paintings are painted by a
wizard or a witch who probably use one or more spells to bring their
creation to life.  I think this explains the variations that we see
from painting to painting.  There are varying levels of artistic skill
depending on the artist (and possibly the rapport between artist and
subject?--that's my speculative notion).  I do think it's a spell that
puts the personality in the portrait, rather than a bit of DNA, but
I've no canon to back that up.  If dementors can suck the soul right
out of you, I suspect magical artists can find a way to embed a copy
of your personality on canvas.

My 2 knuts.

Cheers,

Eustace_Scrubb