These are some fugly portraits. Alas for the monarchy!

Are Will & Kate supposed to be more approchable in this representation!?

This image below is, in my earnest opinion, a bad portrait. Would you agree?

http://www.artofobama.com/2009/01/24/unicorn-fallout-3/

I think there are many mediums that lend themselves to a good or asthetically pleasing portrait, unfortunately a mass produced coin from a photograph is not one of them. But is the point of these portraits to be pleasing to the eye or to allow the masses to feel like they can take away a momento from an event they want to be part of? This couple’s image has been slapped on cups, tea towels, glasses etc in anticipation of a huge demand for a piece of them. However a royal portrait painted by a leading artist would not only be taylored to a diferent audience (the subjects and or the patrons) but would be in league of quality unrivaled by a 2 pound souvenir. But who can say, in a few centuries time it may be all that survives and could sit in a prime position at NPG London who knows.

Clare – I agree in part. I do however believe that it is possible to have differently skilled ‘coined designers’ – the likeness, in my opinion is just not captured.

I do believe that sometimes other factors are involved and it doesn’t rely solely on the artist’s skill… more the concept and the composition are um… off slightly!!

Case in point:
http://www.asylum.com/2009/06/17/awkward-family-photos/

http://www.aceonlineschools.com/30-awesomely-bad-school-portraits/

Oh and Tattoos serve as another area of discussion ie. the coins.
One medium to another… to they relate… or even translate?
http://awfultattoos.blogspot.com/2007/06/bad-portraits.html

Those are brilliant links Amos – I think I’ll expand them into a future post!

I wonder if these ‘lost in translation’ portrait examples are really statements about the mdium of photography in itself? I mean, the original photo was probably a flattering portrait, it was self-sufficient as an object and appropriate for the context.

How about the reverse then – can we take a really bad photograph of a portrait sculpture?

I think you probably can Sam, though I am having trouble thinking of any specific examples! Maybe choosing not to shoo the pigeons away….I’ll work on that. I wonder if it is more of an issue when you miss-locate a sculpture and or its physical placement compromises its intended image or message… like the tourist tradition of making sculptures comedic rather than stately. For exaple the TV addvert where a tourist was encouraged by the photographer to stretch out across the rail of a boat so the Statue of Liberty behind look like it was picking her nose.