Have you seen the first official commissioned portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge, aka Kate Middleton?It’s apparently her “natural” self as opposed to her “official” self. I think she looks stoned and bloated and kind of smirky.
I think it makes her look much older too! And I wasn't sure what it was that didn't seem right, but An Urban Cottage hit the nail on the head...it looks like those portraits they do for funerals...yikes!
It's dreadful! Her eyes...they just look sad or something. What concerns me is that she likes it - wouldn't she want a painting that makes her look good?
What a career ender for the artist. "Darling, for my birthday portrait, make sure you don't commission that painter who made Kate look like a fat, forty year old addict."
This is harsh some of the prior comments . if one views the portrait with images of the duchess smiling the portrait catches her right before breaking into her beautiful smile . Perhaps, in private, she has this bemused look about her. I think we need to see the painting in person maybe the jpeg file was barbershoped or is it fotoshopped
I know this is slightly off topic, but it's really getting on my nerves the way people keep using the words "forty year old" as if they were saying "ugly old hag" regarding this painting. I fully realize that Kate is not forty years old, but the way people are slinging "forty" around makes it sound like anyone who happens to BE in their forties is a has-been that wouldn't be worth painting. Wouldn't it be just as accurate to say "he made her look a lot older than she is"? I stand up with all the other good-looking women in their forties and I fart in the face of all this anti-forty-ism! You cannot do this to my people! 8-)
The only thing the portrait is missing is tiny white fangs peeking out beneath her upper lip. Mwahahahahahhh!
Playing catch up here. Its a terrible pose for a portrait, and I suspect that she didn't sit for long, but had the painter work with photos, particularly for below the neck, where the painter looks like they were fudging it. A stupid choice for a blouse, and the truncated view add to the problem. Why didn't they at least go for a head and neck pose, so some movement could have been added. I think of the more casual and contemporary and very successful portraits of the princes a few years ago. What a waste of opportunity. Of course she says she likes it. How can she say she doesn't? But really, would you like it?
Just found your blog via the map of Paris so late to comment on this but what the heck. Reminds me of one of the wax figures in Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Kind of creepy looking. Perhaps the artist has painted mostly men?
It isn't just unflattering to the sitter, it is just plain bad art. One could accept an unflattering portrait if it had some artistic merit, but this looks like shopping mall art.
Good God! Not only has the painter added 20 years, he's made her look like a middle-aged drinker/smoker. Most unflattering!
ReplyDeletebags under her eyes, too. and wonky eyes
DeleteI think she not only looks older but it's got an ethereal quality like it's posthumous.
ReplyDeletelike a wax figure, no?
DeleteI think it makes her look much older too! And I wasn't sure what it was that didn't seem right, but An Urban Cottage hit the nail on the head...it looks like those portraits they do for funerals...yikes!
ReplyDeleteKat
too smoothed out.
DeleteThe artist has painted her face shape too long, which makes her look older. In reality she has a more rounded face.
ReplyDeleteit's the eyes that get me!
DeleteI could not agree more. Sad really...
ReplyDeleteIt is sad. It's getting savage reviews everywhere.
DeleteSmirk is the right word. But then who would not smirk given the fish she landed.
ReplyDeleteright you are!
Delete"5 o'clock shadow" comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteOMG, you're right!
DeleteIf I were Kate, I would send the artist to the Tower! Forever!
ReplyDeleteOff with his head!
DeleteA sneak peek at 2027.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope she's got a new hairstyle by then.
DeleteYeah, I was thinking that she looked a bit/lot tipsy and was about to spit out a nonsensical,inebriated titter.
ReplyDeleteit's the wonky eyes.
DeleteIt's dreadful! Her eyes...they just look sad or something. What concerns me is that she likes it - wouldn't she want a painting that makes her look good?
ReplyDeleteI think that she has to say that she likes it. What else could she say, really?
DeleteI agree--awful!!! I wonder if that portrait is going to have an accident?
ReplyDeleteMary
Of just get stuck away in some small back corridor.
DeleteWhat a career ender for the artist. "Darling, for my birthday portrait, make sure you don't commission that painter who made Kate look like a fat, forty year old addict."
ReplyDeleteYou've got that right!
DeleteOh dear, this is just...really bloody awful.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100%
DeleteWhen they paint my portrait, I shall make sure it is not done by this artist! Loved your comment on my blog + Thank you xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeletei will just get one of the nursery school kids to do my portrait.
DeleteSo sad! She is so beautiful and radiant and has such a twinkle in her eyes that this seems almost criminal.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this portrait captures her spirit.
DeleteThis is harsh some of the prior comments . if one views the portrait with images of the duchess smiling the portrait catches her right before breaking into her beautiful smile . Perhaps, in private, she has this bemused look about her. I think we need to see the painting in person maybe the jpeg file was barbershoped or is it fotoshopped
ReplyDeleteI don't think the image is photoshopped when every single time i've seen this, it's the same image.
DeleteOh Dear! Meg this is just unacceptable. There is no spark of life there. No, No!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
2013 Artists Series
Agree totally. No spirit, no spark.
DeleteYuck!
ReplyDeletejust dreadful and snarky... time for a redo, methinks.
ReplyDeletebest,
teaorwine
She looks old & tired! Too dark...wrong hair color..awful.
ReplyDeleteI know this is slightly off topic, but it's really getting on my nerves the way people keep using the words "forty year old" as if they were saying "ugly old hag" regarding this painting. I fully realize that Kate is not forty years old, but the way people are slinging "forty" around makes it sound like anyone who happens to BE in their forties is a has-been that wouldn't be worth painting. Wouldn't it be just as accurate to say "he made her look a lot older than she is"? I stand up with all the other good-looking women in their forties and I fart in the face of all this anti-forty-ism! You cannot do this to my people! 8-)
ReplyDeleteThe only thing the portrait is missing is tiny white fangs peeking out beneath her upper lip. Mwahahahahahhh!
Well...I turn 62 this year, so 40 sounds pretty good to me!
ReplyDeleteBut I agree...it is not flattering in any way. Pretty horrible portrait of a lovely young woman.
The painter made her look like Jackie-Earle Haley in drag.
ReplyDeleteThat is a DREADFUL portrait...
ReplyDeletePlaying catch up here. Its a terrible pose for a portrait, and I suspect that she didn't sit for long, but had the painter work with photos, particularly for below the neck, where the painter looks like they were fudging it. A stupid choice for a blouse, and the truncated view add to the problem. Why didn't they at least go for a head and neck pose, so some movement could have been added. I think of the more casual and contemporary and very successful portraits of the princes a few years ago. What a waste of opportunity. Of course she says she likes it. How can she say she doesn't? But really, would you like it?
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog via the map of Paris so late to comment on this but what the heck. Reminds me of one of the wax figures in Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Kind of creepy looking. Perhaps the artist has painted mostly men?
ReplyDeletexxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteIt isn't just unflattering to the sitter, it is just plain bad art. One could accept an unflattering portrait if it had some artistic merit, but this looks like shopping mall art.
ReplyDelete