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Portrait Paintings

Portraiture has been around since the dawn of the Renaissance. As a symbol of wealth, it became more prevalent as capitalism took its grip in Europe. Early portraits showed wealthy arts patrons beholding major religious events.

By the 1600s, portrait artists were in high demand. Anthony Van Dyck of Flanders served as court painter to Charles I, and his style influenced oil portrait painters across Europe. In the Netherlands, Frans Hals painted the noble and other conservative patrons who wanted a portrait without ostentatious display.

Naturalistic portraits emerged during the Rococo period. Thomas Gainsborough’s portraits convey the naturalism popular in France with a gentle storm-and-drama edge. Later, more conservative neoclassical portraiture style celebrated scientific understanding of depth and lighting. Portraiture became more and more abstract in the 20th century, such as the work of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.


Quick Facts

  • By the 19th century, portraiture was so popular that art critics complained about seeing it too much in the Paris salons
  • In 2006, Ronald Lauder paid $135 million for Gustav Klimt’s "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer," 1907, and placed it on permanent public display at the Neue Galerie in New York
  • Artist Chuck Close has re-invigorated contemporary portrait painting images with arrays of colored geometric forms, like a cross between the Pointillist dot and Lichtenstein’s circles

Recommended Items at Auction

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MARY CASSATT (1844 - 1926) Enfant levant la tête.
Apr 30, 1:00 AM EDT
MARY CASSATT (1844 - 1926) Enfant levant la tête.
by Swann Auction Galleries
Est: $7,000- $10,000
$5,2000 Bids
JOSÉ CLEMENTE OROZCO (1883 - 1949) Man in Chains (Prometheus).
Apr 30, 1:00 AM EDT
JOSÉ CLEMENTE OROZCO (1883 - 1949) Man in Chains (Prometheus).
by Swann Auction Galleries
Est: $200,000- $300,000
$150,0000 Bids
RAPHAEL SOYER (1899 - 1987) Portrait of a Woman.
Apr 30, 1:00 AM EDT
RAPHAEL SOYER (1899 - 1987) Portrait of a Woman.
by Swann Auction Galleries
Est: $1,500- $2,500
$1,1000 Bids
The Son of Man
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
The Son of Man
by Tajan
Est: €1,200- €1,500
€1,0000 Bids
American Gothic
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
American Gothic
by Tajan
Est: €5,000- €7,000
€4,4000 Bids
Girl with a Pearl Earring
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
Girl with a Pearl Earring
by Tajan
Est: €6,000- €8,000
€5,5000 Bids
The Weeping Woman
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
The Weeping Woman
by Tajan
Est: €4,000- €6,000
€3,4000 Bids
The Flower Carrier
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
The Flower Carrier
by Tajan
Est: €800- €1,200
€7000 Bids
The Ambassadors
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
The Ambassadors
by Tajan
Est: €7,000- €9,000
€6,5000 Bids
Girl with a Pearl Earring
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
Girl with a Pearl Earring
by Tajan
Est: €6,000- €8,000
€5,5000 Bids
The Son of Man
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
The Son of Man
by Tajan
Est: €1,200- €1,500
€1,0000 Bids
American Gothic
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
American Gothic
by Tajan
Est: €5,000- €7,000
€4,4000 Bids
Ernest Gustave Girardot (1840–1904) - Portrait of a Lady, 19th Century English School
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Ernest Gustave Girardot (1840–1904) - Portrait of a Lady, 19th Century English School
by DP Test House
Est: £1,800- £4,000
£8000 Bids
Italian Mannerist School of the 17th Century - Pair of portraits of Levi and Gad (sons of Jacob)
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Italian Mannerist School of the 17th Century - Pair of portraits of Levi and Gad (sons of Jacob)
by DP Test House
Est: £8,000- £15,000
£4,0000 Bids
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Attired Native, Signed "Juan Peyró"
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Attired Native, Signed "Juan Peyró"
by DP Test House
Est: £8,000- £10,000
£4,0000 Bids
GONZALO BILBAO MARTÍNEZ (1860-1938) - Young woman from Seville
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
GONZALO BILBAO MARTÍNEZ (1860-1938) - Young woman from Seville
by DP Test House
Est: £3,000- £6,000
£2,0000 Bids
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Boy guitarist
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Boy guitarist
by DP Test House
Est: £2,000- £4,000
£1,0000 Bids
French School of the 18th Century - Madame Fontage
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
French School of the 18th Century - Madame Fontage
by DP Test House
Est: £3,000- £6,000
£1,0000 Bids
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Young Girl Shellfishing, signed Rafael Senet
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Young Girl Shellfishing, signed Rafael Senet
by DP Test House
Est: £7,000- £10,000
£5,0000 Bids
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Little Painter
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Little Painter
by DP Test House
Est: £1,300- £3,000
£8000 Bids
ANTONIO TORRES FUSTER (TARRAGONA, 1874-1945) - Portrait of a lady
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
ANTONIO TORRES FUSTER (TARRAGONA, 1874-1945) - Portrait of a lady
by DP Test House
Est: £2,000- £4,000
£1,0000 Bids
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Portrait of a soldier from the Alfonsine era
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Portrait of a soldier from the Alfonsine era
by DP Test House
Est: £5,000- £10,000
£1,0000 Bids
Valencian School of the 19th Century - Portrait of a young girl with earrings
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Valencian School of the 19th Century - Portrait of a young girl with earrings
by DP Test House
Est: £2,500- £5,000
£1,0000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Portrait Paintings


Tajan

Tajan

Swann Auction Galleries

Swann Auction Galleries

Asté Maison de ventes

Asté Maison de ventes