Portrait Painting
Portraiture is one of the most important subjects in painting. The discipline has changed significantly over time and has a fascinating history.
In antiquity, portraits were exclusively reserved for gods and the most influential people in society. Paintings and statues representing the bodies of the deceased were erected to decorate tombs in Egypt. They weren't realistic but rather had a very standardized way of representing each part of the body.
In contrast to the Egyptians, painters and sculptors in Greece, who had a more in depth knowledge of the human anatomy, were more concerned about realism. Many paintings from this period were done on vases and depicted gods and mythological scenes.
In the Middle Ages, most portraits were commissioned and featuring the most important people of the time; they were painted into religious scenes to emphasise their piety and faith, along with their social status. Once these works of art had been painted, they were often donated to churches and monasteries.
The Renaissance marked a renewal for the arts and portraiture was no exception. At the beginning of this period, artists were unconcerned about lifelike, realistic work. Sitters or the subjects represented were identifiable through the use of symbolic objects and the inclusion of their name.
Giotto revolutionized portraiture by imitating sculpture. He began to paint shadows, the subjects' expressions, effects of depth and began to use foreshortening. His knowledge soon began to spread.
Brunelleschi then introduced the idea of perspective in architecture, a concept which Masaccio adapted to painting. Italy became the center of portraiture and the most important Italian families (including the Médici family) commissioned artwork by the best painters. Competition between these painters led them to innovate and led them to produce some of the greatest artworks in history. The most famous is undoubtedly the Mona Lisa by Leonardo de Vinci.
In Northern Europe during the 16th century, Flemish art was restricted by iconoclasm during the Reformation, a period during the depiction of religious figures was banned. Artists turned to courtly art which was particularly popular during the following centuries. A century earlier, Flemish art had marked a turning point with Jan Van Eyck, the inventor of oil painting (the preferred painting technique of all Renaissance painters) and master of detailed realism, who influenced an entire generation of Flemish painters.
Over the following centuries, portraiture continued to be an art form for the elite of society, but painters grew increasingly concerned about depicting realistic figures and communicating the sitter's inner world and emotions. The 20th century saw a growing trend: subjects were not painted to look beautiful (sometimes to their great dismay).
At the end of the 19th century, Impressionist painters became less reliant on sculpted models and sculpture's influence. They left their studios and painted portraits outside, “en plein air." They captured the light as they saw it and painted groups of people together rather than in in several stages.
Modern and contemporary art of the 20th century saw anything go when it came to portraits. Artists like Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin and Lucien Freud turned traditional techniques and codified rules on their heads and developed their own unique styles.
Discover portraits by Philippe Pasqua, Robert Combas, Guangyu Dai and Erró on Artsper.
Jéko
Petite glace, 2022 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$2,289
Éric Odartey
Ataa Adjoa, 2022 40.2 x 30.3 x 2 inch Painting
$1,561
Patricia Simsa
Le sac à pois, 2022 25.6 x 19.7 x 2 inch Painting
$1,717 $1,545
Jazzu
Treasure, 2022 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch Painting
$1,249
AE2
Lili, 2021 45.7 x 35 x 2 inch Painting
$1,197
Bruno Antony
Perceptions bleues sur fil de regard, 2021 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch Painting
$1,561
Hom Nguyen
Racines, 2022 70.9 x 70.9 x 2 inch Painting
$33,297
Olivier Furter
Topographie Humaine II, 2022 23.6 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,873
Luis Alvarado
Les felins, 2022 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch Painting
$728
Boss
Paolablo, 2021 21.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,041
Florence Dussuyer
Romy, 2022 57.5 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch Painting
$4,995
Lotte Teussink
Swimster, 2020 29.9 x 22 inch Painting
$884
Alice de Miramon
Light - Botanical gardens series, 2019 10.2 x 7.9 inch Painting
$676
Egle Karpaviciute
Self-portrait, 2022 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,249
Marina Niko
New heroes, 2020 28.7 x 21.3 x 0.1 inch Painting
$1,233
Philippe Seigle
Shinju, 2022 31.9 x 25.6 inch Painting
$1,249
Pamela Enyonu
Ajai, 2022 61 x 49.2 x 2 inch Painting
$1,561
Miss.Tic
Je Crois En L’Eternel Féminin, 2017 48 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch Painting
$26,013
Marta Zawadzka
Savana, 2019 39.4 x 43.3 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,873
Yoann Merienne
Oxalis, portrait, 2022 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$3,642
Wawapod
Blue Roy, 2022 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch Painting
$936
R. Cavalié
N° 990 A rebours., 2016 23.6 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch Painting
$832
Gago Chtchyan
Portrait, 2017 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$926
Jacek Cyganek
In the forest, 2022 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,665
François Dupuis
Visage, 2021 16.1 x 13 x 1.6 inch Painting
$1,873
Mr. Brainwash
Queen Product, 2014 22 x 22 x 0 inch Painting
$7,804
Adam Norgaard
Festive Night, 2022 27.2 x 21.3 x 0 inch Painting
$850
Aliénor de Montalivet
Sensible Ruin, 2022 29.9 x 24 x 1.6 inch Painting
$1,390
Bara Sketchbook
Untitled, 2022 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,561
Liubou Sas
Dangerous pink 2, 2022 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,561 $1,405
Marichka Shkuro
Seduction, 2022 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.6 inch Painting
$1,000
Ventzislav Dikov
Express Yourself, 2022 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,405
Serghei Ghetiu
The roses from unknown II, 2022 31.5 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,145
Josep Tornero
Untitled, 2021 9.4 x 15.7 inch Painting
$1,385
Christiane Bernais
Dans le hamac, 2009 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,665
Hope 1393
Olaj.C, 2022 31.9 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch Painting
$4,370
Pierre Migot
Chessboard, 2021 31.5 x 25.6 x 1 inch Painting
$1,145
Cécile Duchêne-Malissin
Une ombre dans mes souvenirs IV, 2022 36.2 x 28.7 x 2 inch Painting
$1,831
Ilcho Arsenioski
Dyptique David, 2022 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch Painting
$936
Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle
Ne faire plus qu'un #2, 2022 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch Painting
$884
Clement Garnung
Regardons la réalité en face, 2021 61 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$2,289
Ponthep Supunsaleekul
Superman, 2020 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch Painting
$832
Agnes Cecile
Terra Nascente, 2022 25.6 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch Painting
$1,540
Stefano Ronchi
A la prima Portrait (Patty Smith), 2020 10.6 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch Painting
$916
Wedad Alnasser
Resonant Self, 2022 18.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch Painting
$936
LeFrench
World face, 2021 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,405
Gema Goig
Dalle 5, 2015 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,457
Maldha Mohamed
Obsidion, 2022 11.8 x 19.7 inch Painting
$1,603
Marta Fàbregas
Kairos nº15, 2022 44.1 x 32.7 inch Painting
$2,601
Trëz
Fragmented Shell II, 2022 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch Painting
$1,374
Rose Marie Willems
Hedy L., 2020 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$832
Mariana Gumeniuc
Soul Reflection, 2022 31.5 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch Painting
$1,480 $1,332
Didier Lourenço
Spring afternoon, 2021 47.2 x 47.2 inch Painting
$6,920
Nicolas Monjo
Trafic, 2022 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch Painting
$2,185
Nicolas Benedetti
Sans titre #1, 2022 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,873
Natalija Vincic
Rose moon gift, 2022 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch Painting
$1,873
Lidia Wiencek
Woman in a green dress, 2002 35.4 x 31.9 inch Painting
$1,041
Dima Filatov
Selfie from Europe, 2022 47.2 x 28.7 x 0.2 inch Painting
$957 $862
Béatrice Terra
Je me fonds dans le décor, 2022 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch Painting
$2,497
Anand Manchiraju
Abstract Expression-1, 2018 28 x 22 x 0.1 inch Painting
$1,000
Gat
FabFour@forum, 2019 22 x 28 x 1.5 inch Painting
$1,145
Laurence Hubswerlin Diradourian
Flux, 2020 35.4 x 23.6 inch Painting
$1,509
Thierry Carrier
Code 2201, 2022 63 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch Painting
$9,365
Perrotte
Peyo, 2022 45.7 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch Painting
$4,162
Pascal Marlin
Character, 2015 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch Painting
$291
Jose Ricardo Contreras Gonzalez
George W. Bush gifts Jay Leno a portrait of Jay Leno, 2018 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch Painting
$1,000
Sounya Whang
Petit moine Ivresse du printemps, 2022 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch Painting
$989
Catherine Clare (Kate Styler)
Narcisse et Goldmud, 2013 67.7 x 17.7 x 0 inch Painting
$780
Cathie Berthon
Matisse, 2021 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,249
Asnidy Kiarholi
La cicogna e babbo natale, 2021 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$936
Stavri Kalinov
Cold ceramic composition, 2015 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$3,018
Marta Grassi
Cercle n°1, 2021 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch Painting
$1,353
Mario Marioni
African Child, 1950 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch Painting
$416
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