"Be the very picture of" is an idiom that refers to someone or something that perfectly embodies a particular quality or characteristic. Its antonyms would be terms that describe the complete opposite, such as "be the polar opposite of," "fail to embody," "fall short of," or "be anything but." These phrases suggest a complete lack of resemblance to the quality or characteristic in question. For instance, if someone is described as the very picture of elegance, their antonym would be someone who is the polar opposite of elegance, such as clumsy, awkward, or uncouth. As with any idiom, it's important to understand the context in which it's used to properly identify suitable antonyms.