JKR's Theory of Headmaster Paintings on Pottermore

Apr 14, 2013 01:13

So several new chapters from Prisoner of Azkaban are open now on Pottermore, and in "Flight of the Fat Lady" there is new information about the magical paintings.

Via Pottermore:
Some magical portraits are capable of considerably more interaction with the living world. Traditionally, a headmaster or headmistress is painted before their death. Once the portrait is completed, the headmaster or headmistress in question keeps it under lock and key, regularly visiting it in its cupboard (if so desired) to teach it to act and behave exactly like themselves, and imparting all kinds of useful memories and pieces of knowledge that may then be shared through the centuries with their successors in office.

I literally laughed out loud while reading this because it was so different from what I envisioned. I figured the process was something like Polyjuice potion, with the "essence" of a person (DNA, hair, fingernails, whatever) put into the magical painting. JKR doesn't explain it that way, but says the Headmaster has to teach their painting how to speak and act like them - it's all very Gilderoy Lockhart!

Hmmm . . . so Snape's portrait must have been painted before he died, according to JKR's own theory, right? And since it was war time, and he always knew he could die any day, surely the office would require that he get his portrait done right away. In fact, Snape must have had a portrait all along.

This contradicts JKR's earlier statement that Snape wasn't worthy somehow to have a portrait hanging around with the rest of the Hogwarts Headmasters.

Web Chat Transcript, July 30, 2007
Laura Trego: Was the absence of snapes portrait in the headmasters office in the last scene innocent or deliberate

J.K. Rowling: It was deliberate. Snape had effectively abandoned his post before dying, so he had not merited inclusion in these august circles.
However, I like to think that Harry would be instrumental in ensuring that Snape’s portrait would appear there in due course.

The author really does hate Snape, or she has a perpetually bad memory. Maybe both. Probably she would now say Snape hadn't been in office long enough to have a painting done, but that's a cop-out too. Seems as if getting a painting done would be one of his first duties as Headmaster, not his last, especially during wartime.

paintings, harry potter, severus snape, snape, prisoner of azkaban, pottermore, rowling

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