Hey everyone,
Welcome to another instalment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today, we’ll be discussing some of the many portraits hanging within the hallowed halls
of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
While I suppose the EXACT number of portraits lining the walls of this famous building is
somewhat debatable—many subjects have more than one portrait and who knows what secret
portraits may hang in closets long forgotten—there are around 60 portrait subjects that we DO
know about.
Over the course of a few videos, we’ll cover each and every one of them, diving into who
the witch or wizard was, why they have a portrait hanging up in Hogwarts, and anything else
of note.
Today, we’ll kick things off alphabetically, which brings us to the portrait of a wizard
who needs no introduction…
Albus Dumbledore
As many of you will know, Albus Dumbledore was the eldest son of Percival and Kendra
Dumbledore, a wizard and witch of—primarily—magical descent.
He grew up in the wizarding community of Mould-on-the-Wold and went on to become one of the most powerful
and well-respected wizards to ever live in modern times.
His portrait was made soon after his appointment as Headmaster at Hogwarts in the year 1956.
Once completed, Dumbledore kept it secure in a cupboard in the Headmaster’s Office
within the school.
It is said that Dumbledore would visit his portrait often, as the more time one spends
with their painted likeness, the more characteristics and personality traits the portrait is able
to take on.
During these sessions, it’s likely that Dumbledore also passed along much of his wisdom
and plans for Harry Potter, as his portrait provided much support and was invaluable to
Severus Snape after Albus had passed and Snape assumed the position of Headmaster at the
school.
The portrait now hangs among the other former Hogwarts Headmasters in the Headmaster’s
Office.
Ambrose Swott
Ambrose Swott was an 18th century professor who eventually became one of Hogwarts’ Headmasters.
It is rumoured that before becoming Headmaster, he spent time as a friar, which would support
the accounts that Swott was a very pious wizard who was incredibly passionate about the study
of religion.
In fact, there’s a motto inscribed on one of his portraits within Hogwarts, which reads:
"Ora et Labora", which is Latin for “Pray and Work”—the motto of the Benedictine
order.
Now, I say “one of his portraits” because Ambrose Swott indeed has two paintings of
his likeness hanging up in Hogwarts.
The first portrait is of a younger version of the wizard in which he is wearing a suit—it
can be found along the walls within the Grand Staircase.
The second is Ambrose’s Headmaster portrait, presumably painted upon him taking the position,
as was tradition.
This painting can, of course, be found within the Headmaster’s Office alongside Hogwarts’
other former Headmasters.
Both young and old portraits are known for their pious inclinations and typically spend
their time performing some form of religious act, such as praying or reading a religious
doctrine.
Anne Boleyn
The presence of Anne Boleyn’s portrait within Hogwarts may come as a surprise to many.
However, the former Queen of England and second wife of the infamous Muggle, King Henry VIII,
had quite the reputation within the Tudor court, with many suggesting that she must
have been a witch to have captured the love of their married king.
By contrast, within the wizardry community, there were rumours that Anne was in actual
fact a squib, a descendant of a magical family but without any powers herself.
Regardless of whether or not any of that was true, Anne’s blood status and true heritage
remain a mystery.
Beheaded at the orders of her husband after only three years of marriage, it’s no wonder
that Anne Boleyn’s portrait, which hangs within the Grand Staircase near the second
floor, is a rather anxious one.
It is said that she will talk to anyone who passes by about Henry’s lessening affections,
and that she is rather fond of the female students.
Ariana Dumbledore
The youngest sibling of Albus Dumbledore, Ariana had a very troubling chi*ldhood in
which she was attacked by a group of Muggles while she was innocently playing with magic
at the mere age of six.
As a result, Ariana tragically became an obscurial, a young witch who was so affected by the trauma
of her attack that she became intensely ashamed of her powers, suppressing them to the point
that her magic became incredibly dangerous.
Sadder still, Ariana died as a girl during a dispute between Albus, their brother Aberforth,
and Gellert Grindelwald.
The true details of her death remain a mystery to this day.
Due to her condition, Ariana never attended Hogwarts.
However, Aberforth hung her portrait up at the Hog’s Head Inn in Hogsmeade, which conceals
a secret passage into Hogwarts’ Room of Requirement.
Her likeness remains rather shy and does not talk to those she does not know.
Armando Dippet
Headmaster of Hogwarts during the 1940s at the ripe old age of 300-and-something, Professor
Armando Dippet was the Headmaster of the school immediately preceding Albus Dumbledore.
Tom Riddle—who, of course, later became Voldemort—was a student during Professor
Dippets tenure as Headmaster.
It was during this time that Tom reopened the Chamber of Secrets and subsequently framed
Rubeus Hagrid for the crime, resulting in Armando expelling an innocent young Hagrid.
As a former Ravenclaw himself, Professor Dippets’ portrait depicts him in blue and bronze robes,
which, of course, hangs in the Headmaster’s Office.
Barnabas the Barmy
Barnabas the Barmy was a wizard who attempted—and quite obviously failed—to train trolls to
perform ballet.
It is said that after he attended Hogwarts as a pupil, he went on to become a professional
theatrical wizard.
Although the rumours suggest that he found success in his career, he was somewhat obsessed
with putting on a show that no one in the wizarding world would ever forget.
Presumably, this is what led to his absurd attempt to teach trolls how to dance.
On the seventh floor of Hogwarts, across the hall from the entrance to the Room of Requirement,
hangs a tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barney in his effort to train trolls in the art of
dance.
Basil Fronsac
Professor Basil Fronsac was the Headmaster at Hogwarts sometime before Armando Dippet.
Evidently, he was an incredible scholar who had a passion for knowledge and learning.
He has at least two portraits hanging up within the school at present, one of which is, of
course, his Headmaster painting which is displayed in the Headmaster’s Office alongside his
fellows.
There is also at least one other, which used to hang within the Grand Staircase but was
later relocated to the Dungeons of the castle.
It’s unclear how many more portraits of Basil hang on the Grand Staircase and surrounding
area at present.
His portrait which was relocated to the Dungeons used to protect a shortcut from the Grand
Staircase to a second-floor corridor near the Library.
His password to gain access was rumoured to be “Studious Success”.
Apparently, upon his relocation to the Dungeon, his portrait was once again charged with guarding
another secret passageway, this time to the Grand Staircase.
It’s said that the password to this shortcut was “Libraries Liberate”.
The Bloody Baron
As many of you will know, The Bloody Baron is one of the ghosts who roam the halls of
Hogwarts at present.
But, as it turns out, this particular ghost also has a portrait hung upon the walls of
the school.
As a former student of Hogwarts back in the 11 century, The Bloody Baron was a Slytherin
pupil who attended the school soon after it was founded.
At some point in his youth, he became infatuated with Helena Ravenclaw, the daughter of one
of Hogwarts’ founders, Rowena Ravenclaw.
After Helena ran away to the Albanian forest, Rowena charged The Bloody Baron with finding
her daughter and bringing her back home.
Tragically, when Helena refused The Bloody Baron’s request to return home with him,
he became enraged and murdered her.
Devastated by what he’d done, he in turn killed himself.
The two returned to Hogwarts to haunt the halls as the Ghost of Ravenclaw—otherwise
known as The Grey Lady—and the Ghost of Slytherin, respectively.
As for his portrait, The Bloody Baron is represented by an arrangement of pictures in four parts
known as a tetraptych.
These paintings hang in the Dungeons and together create a singular image of the Baron dressed
in red and unsheathing his sword from its scabbard.
Brian Gagwilde III
The final portrait I’ll be covering in today’s video is of Brian Gagwilde III, a pureblood
descendent of Hogwarts’ Headmaster Brian Gagwilde I.
Although he was never a Headmaster himself, throughout the 17th century, Brian was a huge
supporter of education and was instrumental in the efforts to provide all wizarding chil*dren
with access to schooling outside of their own home.
In honour of his support of institutionalized education, Hogwarts has several portraits
of Brian Gagwilde III hung throughout the school’s main hallways.
As he also has a portrait within Malfoy Manor, which he frequently visits, he’s not always
the easiest portrait subject to track down.
And, with that, we’ve come to the end of another video!
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Until next time…remember
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."