The Danish royal family's new portrait will haunt your dreams

Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The Danish royals -- including Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary -- commissioned their first official family portrait in nearly 125 years. But they look more like the Addams family than a collection of well-respected and popular monarchs.

Queen Margrethe II hired self-taught painter Thomas Kluge four years ago, and he came up with a work of art that casts the entire family in a dark and macabre light. Prince Christian, Denmark's 7-year-old second in line to the throne, takes center place in the painting, with the menacing visage of murderous Danish doll.

The Danish Royal Collections website explains the portrait thusly:

In Kluge's painting the royal couple is depicted in a gilt rococo settee surrounded by their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, all in everyday clothing. The present and future monarchs, H.M. The Queen, T.R.H. The Crown Prince and Prince Christian, all make eye contact with us, while their family members are portrayed in their own universe, unprovoked by the gaze of the spectator. The children are at play with the exception of the upright and severe Prince Christian who seems aware of his future responsibilities.

The portrait will be on display at the Amalienborg Museum in Copenhagen until March 2.

[Fast Company]