Headmaster portraits

[Eustace_Scrubb]

No: HPFGUIDX 159571

"Steve" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:

> The confusing part is, where do the portraits come from?
> I suppose Dumbedore could have sat for his portraits many
> years ago, and when he finally died, they were 
> automatically placed in the various position that were
> pre-planned. 


Eustace_Scrubb:
Though there doesn't seem to be any canon that would confirm or
contradict this, I'm inclined to agree with you.  I suspect there are
wizards with the artistic and magical skill to create these portraits.
   In the somewhat-related area of photography, Colin Creevey says he
was told he needed to develop his photos in a special potion to get
them to move--you still have to have the normal skills of a
photographer, the magic is an added step (not a replacement).  So a
painter would still need to know paint and canvas, perspective and all
that, but would also need to know how to capture the subject's
personality. 

As in the muggle world (especially pre-photography), influential and
well-to-do folks employ these artists to perpetuate some part of their
personality as well as their image.  Where do they hone their skills
or do their work?  Not at Hogwarts, as far as we can tell.  Unless
this is covered in Book 7, I guess we'll never know.


Steve again: 
> I'm convinced that the only way that Dumbledore lives on
> is through his portrait, and while helpful, I think it
> will be a very unsatisfying model of Dumbledore. It will
> have all his character but little of his essense. Still
> it will probably be helpful.

Eustace_Scrubb:

I'm afraid you're right, though maybe how much "essence" might depend
on the skill of the particular artist?

Cheers,

Eustace_Scrubb