Portrait Art
Art I
Kyffin
Williams–
‘Fusilier
Dean’
A portrait is an
image that is
meant to visually
represent a
specific person.
Joseph Chesters –
‘Portrait of James Bentley’
Ancient Portraits
During Roman rule in Egypt
(about 50 to 250 A.D.) the
artisans adopted realistic painting
techniques from the Greeks and
Romans and combined them with
their own ancient mummy coffin
decoration traditions.
Detail of a mummy with an inserted panel
portrait of a youth, Roman period, about
80–100 A.D. Image courtesy of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Pompeii and the Cities of Vesuvius
A Roman marriage portrait is
displayed here with the man
holding a scroll and the
woman holding a stylus and a
wax writing tablet. These
portraits suggested high
education even if it wasn’t true
of the subjects.
The heads are individualized
to the subject’s features, not
simply standard types.
Portrait of a husband and wife;
Pompeii,Italy AD 70-79
4
Portraits were
usually
commissioned to
artists by the
powerful and
rich.
Artist would give
visual clues to
show the
subjects wealth
and prestige.
Sometimes
artists lie…
Many of the
portraits were
idealized, which
means the artists
made the person
look more beautiful
than he or she might
have been in real
life.
John SingeltonCopley
Master Portrait Painter
Painted individuals
from colonial America
Copley painted his
subjects with
extravagant objects
around them.
He painted exotic
animals.
He showed these
animals being
“domesticated” by
the subject, making
that person seem
dignified.
Hero Portraits
Portraits of important people
in positions of power. These
people were painted in a style
that would show heroic status.
These portraits were very
popular in America.
Charles Wilson Peale
GeorgeWashington
Crystal Bridges
How does
Columbus appear
in this portrait?
José Maria
Obregón,
The Inspiration of
Columbus, 1856
Portrait
photographySome of the first
subjects in
photography were
people.
Dorthea Lange
Migrant Mother
The camera can say anything the photographer or sitter wants
to say.
Richard Avedon
A self- portrait is an art work made by an artist,
using their own image, and themselves as the
subject matter.
Vincent Van Gogh
1853-1890
Self Portrait
Frida
Kahlo
19071954
Self Portrait
Pablo
Picasso
18811973
Self Portrait
Mary Cassatt
1844-1926
We started to see their emotions……………
Gustave Courbet, Self Portrait
(The Desperate Man), c. 1843.
Kathe Kollwitz
1867-1945
Self Portrait
Self Portrait
Andy Warhol
1928-1987
We see their personality
Roger Shimomura
1939-
You will create a portrait!
• self-portrait
• a friend or
family
member
• a complete
stranger
The goal of this assignment will be to create a portrait
that is interesting and artistic, rather than just
informational.
Although these portraits are drawn well, they are not
expressive. The compositions are not exciting and
basically pretty boring.
Take a look at this self portrait again. How has the
artist made this more interesting?
What about in this one?
These images show the viewer looking straight ahead. Are
they still dramatic and interesting?
Be creative with how you approach a portrait.
Your composition is important, and it’s not
always the front of the face that creates a
successful work of art.
Don’t be afraid to make expressive marks.
The importance of value should never
be overlooked.
Using contrast
by putting white
next to darks
creates a dramatic
effect.
You may also think about adding props to your
portrait to help convey a message.
Tips for Success
 Do not take “mug
shots” (straight on
views)
 The background
should be reflective of
the subject, or tell a
story.
 Consider props (hats,
hooded sweatshirts,
etc. details …
 You need lighting, this
creates values.
Lighting in photos
Avoid using the flash to
prevent red eye.
Indirect light makes soft
and beautiful pictures. It
also makes one side of
your subject's face light
and the other shadowed,
which creates strong
emotion and mood.