Crown Princess Mary's Portrait by Ralph Heimans

[Australian]

I really like the portrait, I think it's an excellent peice of artwork. Oh and a poster said something about how Mary looked back at the painting while leaving "to get one more look at herself" or something along those lines, So what is it now? she can't look back? Oh the scrutiny lol. She was probably just seeing something she missed thats all :)

[galuhcandrakirana]

Originally Posted by pollyemma

If you look at Mary's posed official photographs (like in fashion magazines and the court's website) she tends to have a serious expression. or more of a half smile than a full-on cheerful one. I guess that is her preference...

Well in my opinion not on this one, on this potrait she looks more as cold than just a serious expression.

[Maxie]

I really like the portrait, even the dark colours. Mary really looks great on it. Very regal and with a very pensive look, as pdas1201 mentioned before. I like the idea of a modern Mary in a very historical background. Well done!

(But that purple hat. My oh my!)

[Sophus]

I like the portrait very much - I'm an arthistorian with a dissertation in royal danish portraits, and this is a portrait that combines both tradition and modern time. I like the fact that Mary is standing in the Gardensalon at Fredensborg - the very room where Laurits Tuxen painted the danish royal family in 1883-1886.

But - I don't understand the great size of the portrait as it do not match the pendant of Frederik in the museum (by danish artist Vibeke Tøjner) at all... If they are ment to hang together I think it is quite strange that one of the portraits is so much smaller that the other.

[Queen Zenobia]

I have to say that I like the potrait and it symbolism and characterisation. What I don't like is the sad, lonely feeling it evokes in me, and the fact that Mary is almost swallowed up by her surroundings.

[Scott]

With regards to the portrait, each time I look at it I see something different. In fact the more I look at it the more I like it.:) I think that she looks looks as though she was just about to gather up her accessories (handbag, gloves, etc) to go out of the door when something caught her eye out of the window. The look to me is a "moment in time" To some people she will always appear as though she is "aloof and arragant" no matter what she does. Some people come across that way but that does not necessarily prove to be the case. I like the portrait.

With regards to her purple hat. I prefer it with the "tweed" suit but I still thinks she looks really nice with black outfit. I think as long as she is happy with what she is wearing that is all that matters. I am no fashion expert by any means but I do not recall seeing Mary in any disastrous outfits, not like some Royals :)

Scott

[MarieLouise]

I agree with all the posters who like the portrait of Mary. I love it aswell. I find it to be very modern and mr. Heimans besides beeing a skilled artist has really captured Marys face and figure. I do not find her expression to be cold at all, when you look at the big picture, which Lasse Pedersen posted a link to, you can really see how dreamy she looks - I think it was pdas who called the expression 'pensive' and I couldn't agree more - Mary looks pensive in the portrait.
Other than that I love that the portrait is untraditional. I find that it portrays a modern crownprincess putting on her gloves ready to fulfill her duties.
Mr Heimans has also captured the light so beatifully as it comes in trough the big windows at Fredensborg castle.

I can't wait to se the portrait in real life!

[capricorninin]

I liked the potrait very much. I agree with people that the tradition and the modernity, her past and future all added up to a fine balance. And her expression is not arrogant as some point out or maybe I am just missing it. To me it is a look of reflection of growth, about the transformation and about the responsibility.

[RaniaRocks]

That's the room where the the engagement conference took place.

[norwegianne]

At first glance, I thought, as many others have stated, that the portrait was too dark. But looking at the large version, I find that I quite like it as it is. I liked the first portrait, but it is also nice to have other than just gala-gown portraits.

I'll have to dig out some available time and take up to the exhibit to see it in real life.

[bbb]

i'm looking forward to ya'll's reaction when you see it in person, be sure to post and let us know what it's like. thanks b
i like both the modern princess and the traditional portrait in the blue dress, the one with the sunglasses imo is weird and doesn't look like her at all.

[Akilah]

I love the portrait because it is different. It is not a typical like the subject (Mary). It is heavy and dark. If I could use one word to describe it, I would say reflective. Her life in the past two years has taken on a "new" purpose and meaning. She is now a mother, wife, and princess. I think the painting shows a women who has come into her own and moving ahead.

[Isabella]

I really, really like the portrait. Mary does look serious in it, but in a very contemplative way, I think. It's very flattering, though, and I love the outfit she's wearing in it.

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by Australian

I really like the portrait, I think it's an excellent peice of artwork. Oh and a poster said something about how Mary looked back at the painting while leaving "to get one more look at herself" or something along those lines, So what is it now? she can't look back? Oh the scrutiny lol. She was probably just seeing something she missed thats all :)

I'm with you. I don't think this princess can win!:)

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by norwegianne

At first glance, I thought, as many others have stated, that the portrait was too dark. But looking at the large version, I find that I quite like it as it is. I liked the first portrait, but it is also nice to have other than just gala-gown portraits.

I'll have to dig out some available time and take up to the exhibit to see it in real life.

I'd love to hear about your impressions, norwegianne, if you get to see it in person.

Oddly enough, I think this portrait looks more traditional than the first one in Australia. Mary is standing in a grand palace room not facing the viewer with a comtemplative otherworldly expression. In older portraits many royals looked away from the viewer and the portraits were meant to give off an otherworldly air. By those standards, this portrait succeeds admirably.

I love the composition with her off to one side and the spaciousness of her surroundings with her reflection in the mirror. The lighting overall is superb with Mary in the light and much of the room in cast shadows. It makes for a very atmospheric painting that is not just about Mary, its about a whole scene.

I have done some portrait painting myself and I like the painting except for a few small crits (which we painters always have when viewing another painting) Not that I could paint anything like this myself, but there are some things I would have liked to see different.

The halftones on her face (the areas between the dark and the light) look a bit dirty-particularly the area on her forehead and the small shadow between her cheek and upper lip. Its as if the painter wanted these areas to still be in the light where her facial coloring is cooler but the pigment got too dark and it looked dirty instead. If he had painted these areas with the warmth that he did the side of her face in shadow, Mary might not have looked so cold as many viewers have commented on. Or if he had just lightened these areas up a bit, they wouldn't have been so distracting.

Actually I think the area around her upper lip could have been handled more delicately. Its not a very flattering profile - making Mary look a bit pudgy in the lip area. I would have preferred in this area that he just lighten things up and choose a more flattering division between light and shade to show off Mary's wonderful bone structure. But these are small nits in a wonderful painting.

But the suit is really superb as is the fabric in the blue sofa. The blue in the sofa adds some much needed color.

[grevinnan]

I am definitively in the minority here but I much prefer the formal paintings with tiara, formal dress and sashes. The painting of Mary could essentially be of anyone. 100 years from now will she stand out among other paintings as a real royal princess or just another women in a very beautiful room?

The royals are different from the rest of us, at least in the way they dress up for formal occasions. Royal events and the way the royal display their jewelry has become much more toned down (compare Queen Mary and Queen EII) and it will most likely become even more so. Eventually we may only have paintings to show what it used to be like. Although photos will be available they are still not the same as standing in front of a life size painting.

[tenngirl]

A poster asked earlier and I repeat the question-Have any of the other Crown Princesses had their portrait painted?

Would this have anything to do with popularity? Please don't shoot me for asking!!!!

I am torn on the painting, I like it and I don't like it. I think it makes Mary look very attractive but the background seems too busy.

Remember Princess Di's first painting? Where she is in pants and sitting sideways on a chair? It was different in an interesting way and I wonder if this is trying to be the same way. After all, Mary will always be an Australian even though she is now a Dane. This portrait shows that combination.

By the way, I too detest the purple hat, yuck!

[Lamyah]

I love the portrait! Only problem I have is that it seems too cluttered and distracting from the main focus, which is Princess Mary. I don't know, but the heavy furniture and wall-paper are too much.

[highpriestess]

Originally Posted by Margrethe II

I couldnt disagree more.

Have you thought that maybe its just good posture on her bahalf, not arrogance?

As for three...there have only been two official portraits commissioned. What is this other one, you have mentioned?

"MI"

In general, chin up-in-the-air gives the impression of haughtiness and arrogance. When someone has the chin up in the air, s/he almost certainly look *down* on people. Her chin wasn't even just tilted a little bit up in the air; it's way up in the air. Unless she's staring at a cowweb on the ceiling, there's no need for such a tilted head and chin. She's been holding her head like that in public ever since she came onto the scene. The artist captures it. It looks haughty and very unusual for a portrait.

The first portrait was a gift to her. I forgot who's the artist. It's just her head with the humongus black sun glasses Mary likes to wear. It's almost comical even though I don't think that's the intention. It's not a flattering portrait.

[galatea_12]

her expression to me seems as if she's waiting for her prince charming to come.....