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     OVERVIEW   

A portrait is a representation of a real person. This representation is often a likeness of the person. However, an artist could alter this representation in order to make it more flattering. Doing so was beneficial to the artist as well as the subject of the portrait. 

The person in a portrait is called the sitter, although he or she is not necessarily seated. A portrait may show one individual, such as the portrait of William Van Rensselaer as cupid. Other portraits include small groups, such as the sculpture of Lincoln, Grant, and Stanton by John Rogers. 

Portraits may also show large groups, such as the Hudson River Schools artists by Thomas Rossiter. This demonstrates the diversity in portraiture.

Artists have employed a variety of poses and styles over the years. Popular poses include the profile and frontal views of the sitter. Not all portraits are full-length; many finish off around the waist of the sitter. The background may be scenic, such as a landscape or interior, or simply a solid color behind the figure. 

Furthermore, portraits are not always oil painted on canvas.  A wide variety of mediums (or materials) have been used for portraiture, from photographs to buttons to T-shirts to mugs to decorative arts to pencil sketches and beyond. Again, a portrait is any representation of a real person or persons. 

The purpose of the portrait often influences the execution of the portrait. For example, a family heirloom may be of finer quality, and include references to the family name and coat of arms, if any. A portrait for a loved one may be a miniature, such as the Ezra Ames self-portrait, and have a softer style and references to love. A politician might prefer a mug or button that could be used for campaigning. 

The execution may also be influenced by the wishes of the artist, the sitter, and the person purchasing the portrait (if not the sitter).  In all three examples above, the sitter might prefer an accentuated rendition of their likeness.  

A portrait captures a person for all time, along with his or her dress, surroundings, and props. These three elements of a portrait often symbolize aspects of the sitter: his or her name, family, background, status, interests, role, and personality. 

Analyzing portraiture can be like playing detective as you interpret the clues and determine the sitter’s identity. This symbolism enriches the physical likeness, and thus preserves a more complete and three-dimensional representation of the sitter. 

Portraits have been used for hundreds of years as a means of documentation. Before the photograph, portraits were used to preserve a person’s likeness. This likeness could then be utilized as a historical document, as a family heirloom, as a tribute, and as a work of art. As explained above, the sitter could be recognized by her likeness as well as by symbolic elements in the painting. 

After photography was developed, painted portraits became more rare, but portraiture continued to flourish. Photographic portraits by professional photographers are very common today, from family portraits to wedding portraits. One example is the series of portraits of the presidents of the United States. These portraits were once painted, but are now photographed. 

You can learn a good deal about history and society from portraiture. Body language and facial expression give you information about the sitter’s status, mood, and personality.  Clothing reflects the styles of the time as well as the wealth and status of the sitter. Props are telling of the sitter’s role, occupation, status, and abilities, but also of societal values.  Why would a given prop be included at this point in history?

There are different ways of conveying a sitter’s attributes—why was this particular prop chosen? For example, classical portraits often include scrolls to convey intelligence and literacy, while later portraits include books. This shows the development from scrolls to bound books. The inclusion of a scroll in a later portrait has classical connotations, such as an interest in antiquity. The setting also provides clues.  Architecture may represent the home of the sitter or popular contemporary styles. Classical architecture has classical connotations. Ruins may symbolize the end of an era.  Portraiture also documents societal prejudice. Stereotypes are often reflected in portraiture, such as the “noble savages” displayed in Four Indian Kings.

As you closely observe portraiture, you begin to notice a plethora of details that give you information about the sitter, the artist, the period, and the location. 

The Serious and the Smirk

• Overview

• Glossary

• Pre Visit Lesson

• Post Visit Lesson

• Web Resources

• Bibliography