[HPforGrownups] Portraits of Hogwarts Founders

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 112098

On Sep 4, 2004, at 8:00 PM, macfotuk at yahoo.com wrote:
>  I know it was a really, really lomg time ago, but why aren't there 
> any portraits of Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga
>  Hufflebuff and Rowena Ravenclaw?

Caesian responds:
I don't see why there could not be a portrait, but this would probably 
be of limited value -  the personality of each of the founders seems 
well established in other ways, and portraits are "not very fully 
realised":

 From the Edinburgh Festival:
Q: All the paintings we have seen at Hogwarts are of dead people. They 
seem to be living through their portraits. How is this so? If there was 
a painting of Harry’s parents, would he be able to obtain advice from 
them?

A: That is a very good question. They are all of dead people; they are 
not as fully realised as ghosts, as you have probably noticed. The 
place where you see them really talk is in Dumbledore’s office, 
primarily; the idea is that the previous headmasters and headmistresses 
leave behind a faint imprint of themselves. They leave their aura, 
almost, in the office and they can give some counsel to the present 
occupant, but it is not like being a ghost. They repeat catchphrases, 
almost. The portrait of Sirius’ mother is not a very 3D personality; 
she is not very fully realised. She repeats catchphrases that she had 
when she was alive. If Harry had a portrait of his parents it would not 
help him a great deal. If he could meet them as ghosts, that would be a 
much more meaningful interaction, but as Nick explained at the end of 
Phoenix—I am straying into dangerous territory, but I think you 
probably know what he explained—there are some people who would not 
come back as ghosts because they are unafraid, or less afraid, of 
death.

I also see no reason why we could not meet one of the founders as a 
ghost.  The Grey Lady, the Ravenclaw ghost and the Bloody Baron both 
seem like potential candidates for backstory.  And I would like to know 
how the silver blood stains occurred.  Could one of these be a Hogwarts 
founder?  Who knows..

Cheers,
Caesian