Genre in painting, where the intent is to depict a specific human subject
See portrait for more about the general topic of portraits.
Self-portrait of Nicolas Régnier painting a portrait of Vincenzo Giustiniani, 1623–24, Fogg Art Museum.
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to represent a specific human subject. The term 'portrait painting' can also describe the actual painted portrait. Portraitists may create their work by commission, for public and private persons, or they may be inspired by admiration or affection for the subject. Portraits often serve as important state and family records, as well as remembrances.
Historically, portrait paintings have primarily memorialized the rich and powerful. Over time, however, it became more common for middle-class patrons to commission portraits of their families and colleagues. Today, portrait paintings are still commissioned by governments, corporations, groups, clubs, and individuals. In addition to painting, portraits can also be made in other media such as prints (including etching and lithography), photography, video and digital media.
Frans Hals, later finished by Pieter Codde. De Magere Compagnie. 1637. Oil on canvas, 209 × 429 cm. Group portraits were important in Dutch Golden Age painting
It might seem obvious that a painted portrait is intended to achieve a likeness of the sitter that is recognisable to those who have seen them, and ideally is a very good record of their appearance. In fact this concept has been slow to grow, and it took centuries for artists in different traditions to acquire the distinct skills for painting a good likeness.
Portraitpainting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to represent a specific human subject. The term 'portraitpainting' can also describe the...
of the best-known portraits in the Western world is Leonardo da Vinci's painting titled Mona Lisa, which is thought to be a portrait of Lisa Gherardini...
A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face not always is predominant. In arts portrait...
Madame X or Portrait of Madame X is a portraitpainting by John Singer Sargent of a young socialite, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, wife of the French...
Portrait (or The Arnolfini Wedding, The Arnolfini Marriage, the Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, or other titles) is a 1434 oil painting on...
the hierarchy. Most paintings were relatively small – the only common type of really large paintings were group portraits. Painting directly onto walls...
Lisa [ˈmɔnna ˈliːza]; French: Joconde [ʒɔkɔ̃d]) is a half-length portraitpainting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece...
to the tradition of panel painting, one of the most highly regarded forms of art in the Classical world. The Fayum portraits are the only large body of...
A portrait miniature is a miniature portraitpainting, usually executed in gouache, watercolor, or enamel. Portrait miniatures developed out of the techniques...
engraved portrait of Shakespeare used in the First Folio in 1623. It is named after the 3rd Duke of Chandos, who formerly owned the painting. The portrait was...
by Edelfelt for his portrait of Louis Pasteur Final Pasteur's Portrait in his laboratory (1885) Edelfelt began by paintingportraits of his family and relatives...
The Athenaeum Portrait, also known as The Athenaeum, is an unfinished painting by Gilbert Stuart of United States President George Washington. Created...
Hoover's request, this painting replaced the original, and currently stands as the official White House portrait. The Johansen painting now resides at the...
The Portrait of a Musician is an unfinished painting widely attributed to the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1483–1487. Produced...
Portrait of Madeleine, also known as 'Portrait of a Black Woman' (French: Portrait d'une femme noire or Portrait d'une negresse), is an oil-on-canvas painting...
14, 2022, an almost certainly authentic self-portrait of van Gogh was uncovered under his 1885 painting "Head of a peasant woman". Lesley Stevenson, a...
Ottoman Empire, for a book or album Mughal painting Deccan paintingPortrait miniature, a miniature portraitpainting Miniature figure (gaming), used in wargaming...
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