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Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by historical facts and archaeology. I think humans perceive the past as a series of events; something like a movie that we can’t really feel or touch. I believe the things that bring us closer to the past are those that truly humanize us - the bodies from Pompeii, the perfectly preserved Inca mummies, the personal objects of long-gone historical figures, and more.

I’ve always thought how incredible it would be to see historical events and the famous people the way they actually happened and the way they actually looked. I started Royalty Now in February of 2019, simply as a way for me to see my favorite historical figure, Anne Boleyn, as a woman of modern times. I wanted to know if she could come to life from the few pale, flat portraits we have of her. I started the account to satisfy my own curiosity about what those interesting people of the past would look like if they were standing right in front of me. I’m incredibly thankful for the support and interest the account has received, and can’t wait to see what happens next with other historical people.

More info: Instagram

#1

Nefertiti

Nefertiti

"This bust of Nefertiti (believed to have been sculpted during her lifetime) is famous for its grace and beauty. Nefertiti lived from approximately 1370 - 1330 BC. She was an Egyptian queen and the wife of Akhenaten, an Egyptian Pharaoh. Akhenaten is famous for his attempt to transition Egypt into a monotheistic society (worshipping only the sun god, Aten), instead of a polytheistic one."

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#4

Alexander The Great

Alexander The Great

"I did some research on his looks and it is recorded that he had curly golden hair and heterochromia (one eye blue and one eye brown or a combo of both), so he was definitely a striking figure."

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#5

Agrippina The Younger

Agrippina The Younger

"Agrippina the Younger is someone I only recently learned more about but she had a crazy life. She was the sister of Emperor Caligula and the mother of Emperor Nero. I highly recommend giving her a search if you’re interested in that era of Roman history!"

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ju Hel
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her (I think 3rd) husband changed her birthplace, a small village, into a roman city in her name. The oppidum ubiorum became Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, CCAA. Today known as Cologne (Köln)

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#8

Mary, Queen Of Scots

Mary, Queen Of Scots

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Lauren Moss
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love that you can see the resemblence between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I!

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#9

Madame De Pompadour

Madame De Pompadour

"Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, better known as Madame de Pompadour. She first caught the eye of Louis XV at a masked ball in 1745 (it was said that she was dressed as a domino, and he was dressed as a plant) and was his chief mistress thereafter until 1751. Even after she was no longer Louis' mistress, she was a trusted friend, confidante, and advisor, essentially becoming one of the most powerful women at the French court until her death in 1764."

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#10

Empress Elisabeth Of Austria

Empress Elisabeth Of Austria

"During her life, Elisabeth (known as Sisi), was known for being beautiful, smart, rebellious and passionate. Definitely worth some digging into if you are interested in late 1800s Europe."

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#12

Katherine Of Aragon

Katherine Of Aragon

"This portrait of Katherine of Aragon, wife of King Henry VIII and Queen of England from 1509-1533, has always been my favorite. There are several portraits of her that all range in looks, so it’s hard to tell her true likeness. I think this one captures her piety, meekness, and obedience as documented by historians."

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#13

Louis XV

Louis XV

"Louis XV is lesser known than his predecessor the Sun King and his heir, Louis XVI, but he was the second-longest reigning monarch in French history. I have always known him by his famous mistresses, Madame De Pompadour and Madame du Barry."

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Seabeast
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He loved working with his hands, apparently. He'd probably have been a mechanic, carpenter, or worked at some other trade in modern times. Maybe a mechanical engineer, if he did go white collar.

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#14

Catherine Parr

Catherine Parr

"She was the only wife to outlive the king, who was tyrannical in his last years."

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Viviane
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anne of Cleves outlived him as well. She got the best deal: Henry VIII annulled the marriage within a year, gave her some nice properties, a title, and honorary membership to the family as "the King's Beloved Sister" (invitations to court without the hassle of being married to someone toxic).

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#17

Queen Isabella Of Castile

Queen Isabella Of Castile

"Queen Isabella of Castile, partner to Ferdinand II of Aragon and the queen who sent Columbus on his way to the “new world” in 1492. "

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#18

Emperor Augustus

Emperor Augustus

"Emperor Augustus (born Octavius, the great-nephew of Julius Caesar) was the first emperor of Rome, ending 500 years of republic. He’s an incredibly controversial figure, especially due to the smart and ruthless way he came to power, but he ruled over a time of relative peace in the Roman empire."

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#19

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

"Abe Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War, its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the U.S. economy."

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#20

Christina Of Denmark

Christina Of Denmark

"Christina of Denmark, seen here in an original Hans Holbein portrait, lived from 1521 - 1590. Christina was considered as a possible bride for King Henry VIII of England. Christina was not fond of the English King's reputation, given that he had divorced his first wife and beheaded his second wife. The originator of one of the greatest quotes about King Henry in history, Christina famously said: "If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England's disposal." What an amazing denial to a marriage proposal."

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#21

Katherine Howard

Katherine Howard

"Katherine Howard (c. 1523 – 13 February 1542) was Queen of England for only 16 months as the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Katherine was actually the cousin of Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn. When they married, he was 49 and she only 16 or 17. Katherine was accused of adultery and executed by the King, ending her short reign as the Queen of England."

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#22

Eleanor Of Toledo

Eleanor Of Toledo

"Eleanor of Toledo was an astonishing woman. Originally from Toledo, Spain, she was a bride to a famous member of the Medici Family, Cosimo I de Medici. Her husband regularly consulted with her on matters of politics, and she even served as consort during his time away from Florence."

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#23

Madame Du Barry

Madame Du Barry

"This is Madame du Barry - the official mistress of Louis XV after his first love, Madame de Pompadour’s death."

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#24

Caligula

Caligula

"Caligula, infamous brat and Roman Emperor."

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Christoph Lindemann
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You could have just postet a picture of Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones). They look pretty much alike.

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#25

Napoleon

Napoleon

"Did you know that Napoleon was most likely 5'7"? That's taller than King Louis XIV. Some say his perceived smaller stature was due to him looking small in comparison to his huge accomplishments. Others say there was an error when translating his true height from French to English. Who do you think he looks like here?"

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#26

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

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#28

King Henry VII

King Henry VII

"Here we are with Henry VII, the first tudor monarch, a frequent request from you all. Henry was the last king of England to attain the throne in battle after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485."

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Sunny Hernandez
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank God for Princess Di and Kate Middleton. Inbreeding leads to so much ugliness. 😁

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#29

Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa

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Patrick O'Brien
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Close, but if I met the likeness, I'm not sure the first thing I would think of is Mona Lisa. The shape of the face is not quite right and her expression lacks the subtlety of the original.

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#30

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly

"Grace Kelly, American film actress and Princess of Monaco."

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Jim Kang
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look, she doesn't need you to "improve" her look. She was, and still is stunning.

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Grazina Strolia
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not about improving? It's about modernizing. What would they look like today?

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Opey Cresswell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah. I agree. Grace wasn't...and isn't ancient history...more recent history.

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Karen Klinck
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grace was '50s modern. There's a certain 'datedness' to her. I don't see why she was included, though; she's too close to modern.

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Riz Leslie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently this artist doesn’t find full faces to be beautiful, considering the fact that they took round and fuller faces that have nothing wrong with them and look beautiful and youthful... into thinner and more chiseled faces.

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Grumble O'Pug
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK, Grace Kelly would not be caught dead in that cheap hairdo, accessories and lace nonsense. Let's be real.

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Doreen Mellor
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in addition to a few tiny and barely noticeable photoshoppings, you have completely changed the shape of her chin, cheek and hair line and lengthened her neck - the very attributes which created her particular and very recognisable beauty are no longer there. Your version is completely unrecognisable as Grace Kelly.

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Meredith Gray
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is she in this group with the royals fan from 600 years ago?

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Rob Stiles
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does it look like most of the women have been thinned down a bit?

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Jasmina Pavlovic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why? There are plenty of beautiful pictures from her. Why improving??? 🤔

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Doug Swicegood
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I felt so at first until I realized Becca Saladin and Vėjūnė Rimašiūtė worked hard to give us a 21st Century view of many of our faves. I think they had lots of fun, frustration, gave into just pure hard work. I commend them. As an artist they gave me some entertainment for a little while.

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Jude Weber
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss old Hollywood when stars were natural beauty's, men were rugged, tough, masculine, and American Patriots that put their country first, career second, and most of them stayed married for the long run. This beauty is timeless, Grace Kelly, who became Queen of Monaco. The era of gorgeous women who didn't paint their faces an inch thick, were real ladies, yet could compete with any man who tried to get in their way without using every curse word in the book trying to prove they are the new liberated woman. Liz Taylor was also a beauty from this era, and many more. Grace Kelly was absolutely beautiful

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Karen Klinck
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were managed down to the amount of time they spent in the bedroom by their film studios, and they didn't DARE divorce; they'd lose their contracts. As far as the makeup went, since you never saw a picture of them without it (it wasn't allowed) you'd never know. Most of them were chain smokers; you never saw pictures of that, either. You never saw pictures of them drunk, or fighting, or even driving a car. All photo shoots were organized by the studios, even the 'spontaneous' ones. The paperazzi haunted the police radios, hoping to get the scandalous photos that had a paper trail backup. It's what the people of the time wanted. They WANTED the fairy-tale movie stars. (Unless, of course, there was murder involved, which was more interesting.) But things like adultery, drunk driving, etc got pushed under a rug, and just didn't exist to the public.

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Mishte Tine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is silly. The true photo is timeless, classy and elegant. The “modern” clothing and hair is a disservice. First: do no harm (when doing anything is a mistake).

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Nick McPherran
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No even close. Watch Grace Kelly in High Society, and you'll see that this rare beauty had a face that the camera loved at ANY angle. Her captivating beauty, and then she opened her mouth, spoke and the heavens aligned. This rare occurrence cannot be compared.

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Robin Miles
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You cannot improve on this beautiful and gracious lady's looks! She is one of a kind.

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Doug Swicegood
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up loving Grace Kelly! Always Loved her 1950s waves. Her hair was so shiny in real life. Love her movies!

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Laurel Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If he were blonde, Caligula would strongly resemble Joffrey from Game of Thrones. Rather fitting.

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Sam Leigh
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So it’s the dimensions of the positive and negative space with modern natural hairstyles and wearing today’s fashion. Obviously a huge job and the results are the result of excellence.

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Shaun Humphreys
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

her hairstyle is PERFECT, as is her hair colour, that auburn blonde. I wish women still styled their hair in this classic forties-fifties style. i like the waves. she is for sure along with ingrid bergman the most beautiful blonde ever.

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Shaun Humphreys
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

god i love her grace kelly's hairstyle. i wish women still styled their hair like this, with lots of wavyness.They have their hair too flat nowadays.

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J. Gravelle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're giving 'em all the benefit of the doubt in surmising Napoleon, Mona Lisa, et al would have somehow shed their double-chins. In today's day and age, likelier the opposite. Re-do this series and add 30-40 lbs to each person. THAT would be interesting. Having said that, Catherine Parr? Wow...!

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Kathy Granzow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is kind of creepy - you're making her look much younger in the second pic. It's not an improvement

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Marla Volovna
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All are very good with the exception of Mona Lisa, which is terrible!

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K Lane
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why bother dressing her in today's clothing? She looks just the same!@

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Kenneth Sturmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the need, again! She was a modern woman and quite beautiful. There is no need, to "recreate" her!

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Duncan Waldie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally wrong. Today they all look nothing like their former selves. Those that are not dust are mere skeletons of themselves.

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Dennis Starck
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

third of these dont even look the same this one being the worst lol

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Pauline Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, if you had showed me the "after" picture I would never have guessed if was of Grace Kelly. A relative maybe, but not Grace herself.

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Suzan Ghalib
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whether it is her photo of original or the modernized one, she is much prettier than all of her offsprings.

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Jeremy Weinland
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like you’re right. Caligula, Lincoln and Augustus looked like and would still look like total nerds. Augustus had great floppy ears and a wider face. It would have been more interesting to see them in regular clothes, that way we can really know what they would have looked like as people. But despite saying all of that, it’s still good work!

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John Madison
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We really don't need to "imagine" what Grace Kelly looked like, as there are thousands of photos of her, unlike the previous figures, most of whom we have only portraits or sculptures.

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Stan Zorin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The new "portrait" was not needed. Maybe photoshopping a hairstyle but that's it.

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Sarah Conley
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's lost like two inches off the width of her neck. She didn't need to be slimmed down.

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Lana Jig-maker
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmm. I would have guessed that the modern style would have a pixie hair cut

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Aslı İdil
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the second photo looks as if it was taken way before the first one.

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Robin Miles
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was and still is a timeless beauty. Absolutely nothing can change her grace and beauty!

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Shelley Ewer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grace Kelly was beautiful! She would have aged gracefully. They should have aged her NOT defined her by another look.

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Shelley Ewer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grace Kelly was beautiful. She would have aged gracefully...they should have aged her not define her as a different person!

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Carole Mclean-Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have made her faace slimmer than the original, mouth and eyes perfect though

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Megan Close
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would you do this one? Plenty of photos of Princess Grace. BTW the forehead slope is wrong on this one too.

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Rosemary Rimmer-Clay
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A fascinating concept- people leap off the page. [Although Queen Elizabeth 1 probably had a widow's peak and a lower headline - royal ladies shaved their foreheads to have a bigger forehead, and she had fuller lips than you allow her]. Anne Boleyn had much darker eyes than you give her- she was spoken of as having 'black' eyes... Jane Austen had darker, curly hair. Mary Wueen of Scots had much curlier, frizzy hair and much darker eyes, judging by her portraits]. But these are quibbles- it is a fascinating insight into how famous people really looked. I really enjoyed seeing them. Did you realise that you could run a business sideline turning current photographs into historic art- so people can see themselves as Queen Elizabeth 1, or any famous portrait, just by reversing your process? Such a clever and worthwhile idea!

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Holly Hitch
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is fun but it doesn't take into account that styles of art predominated through certain eras...faces of royalty in particular were painted *certain ways* with very little deviation.

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Maryann Harter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are plenty of pictures of her as a child so this really doesn’t belong with this group.

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Kristin Webb
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

STUNNING always! Always thought it quite sad her daughter did not inherit her classic fair beauty!

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Jim Ellington
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, she looks exactly like she does in the modern color photograph on the left.

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Karen Klinck
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are no accurate portrayals of Cleopatra. The Roman version is either from an infatuated lover, or a suspicious Roman populace. The one coin image had her looking like a fat hag. In short, nobody knows.

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Veni Ch
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both look excellent, yep she d definitely look like that!!

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Sarah Hearn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All you have to do is look at her daughters to bring her up to date.

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Note: this post originally had 39 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.