The first official painting of the Duchess of Cambridge has been unveiled to mixed reviews from critics.
Paul Emsley's work took several months using a technique of building thin layers of oil and glazes on canvas.
The artist had two sittings with the duchess and also worked from a series of photographs he took.
The portrait is now on display at London's National Portrait Gallery, which commissioned the work. The duchess is the gallery's patron.
Mr Emsley was chosen by the gallery's director, Sandy Nairne. Catherine, who studied history of art at St Andrews University, was also involved in the selection process.
The duchess, 31, whose pregnancy was announced by the Royal Family last month, sat for the artist in May 2012 at his studio, and again in June at Kensington Palace.
Kates's looking grim
Kates's looking grim
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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Re: Kates's looking grim
I don't think she looks bad. Rather elegant actually.
Re: Kates's looking grim
She looks like someone just told an obscene joke and is trying not to react
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: Kates's looking grim
It would be flattering if she was in her forties, but she's only 31.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Kates's looking grim
Maybe they are looking for that more mature side of her.
Re: Kates's looking grim
Poor Kate... Looks like the norovirus has hit her pretty hard!
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: Kates's looking grim
The painting looks like a photograph.
Most people (that care about this) probably don't want a portrait to be so realistic.
They probably prefer something that makes someone look better than they actually look.

Most people (that care about this) probably don't want a portrait to be so realistic.
They probably prefer something that makes someone look better than they actually look.

Re: Kates's looking grim
Well, actually it's more like a computer generated photograph of how she might look in 10-15 years, assuming that in addition to wrinkles, she also gains a little weight....The painting looks like a photograph.
Here's a real recent photograph for comparison:





Re: Kates's looking grim
I think it totally misses her youth and spirit.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
LJ. YEAH, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE ARTIST...
... purposely "age progressed" her countenance. Everything but the gobbler neck and double chin. Dorian Gray syndrome, maybe?

“In a world whose absurdity appears to be so impenetrable, we simply must reach a greater degree of understanding among us, a greater sincerity.”
Re: Kates's looking grim





“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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Re: Kates's looking grim
Being an older person, and not knowing (nor caring) her age, I think it's a nice picture. And when you have a 27 yo future DIL and a 23yo daughter with friends, I try and turn a blind eye to the young'uns.
Re: Kates's looking grim
You think you've got problems, I've a daughter who plays for a women's basketball team.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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Re: Kates's looking grim
And if I remember correctly, is dating an American.Gob wrote:You think you've got problems, I've a daughter who plays for a women's basketball team.
Resistance is futile.

Re: Kates's looking grim
Yep, though the women's basketballers are worth a look, him....not so much....
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”