The phrase "a close likeness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that closely resembles or is similar to another thing.
Example: "The painting is a close likeness of the original masterpiece, capturing every detail beautifully."
Alternatives: "a near resemblance" or "a strong similarity".
The fictionalized portrait of her mother that she gives us in Bessie Bawtry is undoubtedly not the one Byatt would have given us; it may not even be a close likeness of the real Kathleen Marie Bloor.
His names are given as "Abbey" and "Happy" and the portrait incised in the memorial stone is not a close likeness; but that is right for a man who never knew who he was and who never looked the way he did after the two taxis rode over him.
The effigy features a pronounced lower lip, and may be a close likeness of Edward.
Of course, I fit the picture to the frame, but I never feel it is even a close likeness.
His gilt-brass funeral effigy was designed and forged within the abbey grounds by William Torell; unlike other effigies of the period, it is particularly naturalistic in style, but it is probably not a close likeness of Henry himself.
The image of a poker player in the minds of most people unfamiliar with the game surely bears a closer likeness to someone like, say, John Goodman than to Ms. Gowen, who is tall and blond in the manner of someone who might be invited to pledge Kappa Kappa Gamma.
I can't imagine a closer likeness to Lil' Abner unless you stuck a corncob pipe in her mouth.
Parker Sawyers is an eerily close likeness for the lanky, conceited, cigarette-smoking young Barack, a Harvard law student doing a summer associate programme at the prestigious a Chicago firm where he is mentored by beautiful, smart Michelle, played with charm and self-possession by Tika Sumpter.
In colloquial terms, "uncanny" usually means an extremely close likeness, but Sigmund Freud defined the uncanny as something weirdly and nearly familiar not wholly recognizable.
Sam, because Starkiller is such a close physical likeness to you, you've become one of the first video game actors to be recognised in the street.
Complete prion protein immunohistochemical study on both brains and peripheral organs showed the close likeness between the two cases.
