Movies - Portrait

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In the Harry Potter books and films, the subjects of magical portraits can move (or simulate motion, at least within the two-dimensional plane of the picture), interact with living observers, speak, and demonstrate apparent emotion and personality. Some can even apparently move to other image-frames to visit each other, or to relay messages. Many examples are found in the form of paintings on the walls of Hogwarts.

At least one portrait, that of the Fat Lady (see below) can perform at least one action with a physical effect outside the frame of her painting: she can open the door that is hidden behind her painting, by unknown (presumably magical) means.

It is unknown how the painted portraits come into being: whether they are produced by a painter or brought into existence by other means. It is also unknown whether they are bewitched or haunted by the spirit of a once-living person. Magical photographs (see below) with similar properties are created by developing regular (un-magical) film in a magic potion.

If they are manufactured works of art (and not haunted by a human ghost), the portraits could be considered a form of fictional, disembodied, (non-technological) artificial intelligence, somewhat reminiscent of Max Headroom. If so, then philosophical and legal questions relevant to speculated artificial intelligences could apply also to these supernatural objects. (See Are They "People"? below.)

At Hogwarts

The Fat Lady

The Fat Lady is the guardian of the door to Gryffindor Tower, which is hidden behind her painting. She will open it (sometimes grudgingly) when the correct password is uttered. She is often upset after being awakened. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, she left to visit another portrait in the middle of the night, locking Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville out of Gryffindor Tower. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Fat Lady was attacked by Sirius Black and it was some time before she dared to guard Gryffindor Tower again.

The Fat Lady can be seen as a parody of the magical threshold guardians common in literature and myth, such as the sphinx faced by Oedipus, the gates of Moria in The Fellowship of the Ring, or the door to the bandits' cave to which Ali Baba gains entry in Arabian Nights. Each of these will only permit passage if the traveller speaks correct words.

In the first movie (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) the Fat Lady was played by Elizabeth Spriggs. She did not appear in the second movie. In the third movie (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) she was played by Dawn French.

Sir Cadogan

Sir Cadogan is an eccentric knight who guarded Gryffindor Tower during Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when the Fat Lady was recovering from her encounter with Sirius Black. Sir Cadogan was universally hated as he spent half his time challenging people to duel and the rest coming up with complicated passwords he changed frequently. He wasn't fired until after he let Sirius Black in when Sirius read the whole week's passwords off a list (compiled by Neville Longbottom who was unable to keep track of the changes). Sir Cadogan's portrait was already well-known at Hogwarts in Bill Weasley's day.

Sir Cadogan was played in the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie by Paul Whitehouse.

Violet

Violet is a portrait present in the Chamber off the Great Hall where Albus Dumbledore addressed the four Triwizard Champions. She listened to the whole meeting, and then visited the Fat Lady and told her, as well as the other Gryffindor students, all about it. She again visited the Fat Lady on Christmas, when she was nicknamed "Vi" and both portraits got very drunk.

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Movies - Portrait

At Hogwarts

The Fat Lady

Sir Cadogan

Violet

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