At first glance, I found this to be a bit creepy and "Adams Family"-like. After I looked at it several more times, it sort of grew on me, lol. It's more real than a staged/posed one that leaves the flaws out. I also love the portrait of Kate Middleton. What do you think? Link for story at the bottom.





http://globalnews.ca/news/982089/new-po ... -or-is-it/

It is certainly intriguing and harks back unashamedly to an earlier era. Maybe this is the central problem with portrait painting it may be that the hi res digi camera can and does show the 'warts and all' and now has a problem with what to say.

The first one looks to me to be the painting equivalent of photo-shopped ~ like people and things were added to fill space ~ ~ but I think the portrait of Kate Middleton is lovely ~ as she is ~

Sooz

I think the first one hangs in some museum, with different people though.
The background looks familiar.

I think the main idea of the first portrait is to show the isolation of the boy in the centre. Everyone else seems to be in action of one kind or other--he seems to be staring out at the audience or artist with a kind of "help me" face, or a despairing face. It reminds me a little of the scream.

The little girl in the lower left corner of the first pic looks a little "Children of the Corn" to me.

More of the Danish royals...



Prince Christian on the potty, Frederik posed in jocks, and a breast feeding Princess Mary.

I was thinking that about the little boy in the center, pic ~

Sooz

You are sort of right. See left hand background on painting below. That looks like a royal palace room or similar.

Historical Background
The group portrait is an art historical reference to a renowned painting of the 1880s which depicts the Danish royal couple and their international family. Christian IX and Queen Louise were called "the in-laws of Europe" in their time, and the painting by Laurits Tuxen has become a historic icon.

http://dkks.dk/thomas-kluge-2

The portrait above is a little cut-off. There's another little boy at the bottom:

LMAO! My Dad loved those.

It also slightly reminds me of velvet paintings.



Here is a velvet version of the dogs: