The Woman Who Will Be Queen, A Portrait

Her Royal Highness Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge by Paul Emsley, 2012. 

This is the first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge, which debuted on January 11, 2013 at the National Gallery. The first ever official painting of the woman that will one day be Queen of the United Kingdom and Paul Emsley, the painter, often commented on the pressure he felt while painting the Duchess. When the painting was revealed to the public, there was mixed reception. Many believed he prematurely aged her and others thought that the eyes looked rather alarming. The Duchess of Cambridge loved the painting and referred to it as "brilliant."

Personally, I thought this was a great portrait of the Duchess. Although it was clearly modern, it has echoes of older royal portraits. The commanding stance and half-smile speak to her demeanor as a future Queen Consort.  The use of blue is ingenious and a clear echo of her famous engagement ring. The hair is the most striking portion of this painting and seems almost other worldly, like the way women were painted during the Georgian era. I like the lightness in her roots. I look at this as a sign of maturity as well as a sign of fertility. She's here to be a strong guiding force in Britain as well as being able to produce many heirs.