Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

Two Essays on Portraiture

The portrait is one of the oldest forms of artistic or visual representation. A portrait is the image of an individual, whether a painting, photograph, sculpture or other artistic form. As such, a portrait depicts the physical appearance of an individual, often incorporating some sense of the individualÆs character. As Brilliant (1987) maintains, ôSince portraits are imaged, the quality and perspicacity of their reference rather than the accuracy of depiction establishes the normative standard of their beingö (p. 171). To be considered a good portrait, Brilliant (1987) also argues that the portrait must be a ôcorrect likeness of the originalö subject (p. 171). Despite these criteria, portraiture throughout history often depicts subjects with a likeness that is distinct from the actual subject, as was the case with many of PicassoÆs portraits and various other artists. This analysis will discuss the international history of portraiture.

The portrait can be traced as far back in history as Ancient Rome and sculpted images of individuals. In nearly all cultures and all ages of history, the portrait has been a staple of artistic expression. The nature of portraiture has changed over the centuries. Roman portraits were intent of exact representation of the person, even unflattering representations. Eventually, portraits were created that portrayed a much more flattering representation of the subject than was the case in reality. So, too, portraiture and portrait images often evolved due to different beliefs and philosophies of artistic expression in various eras. During the Renaissance, portraits were represented by artists with the intent of revealing the subjectÆs identity or personality. Botticelli painted a number of works, but one of his most famous paintings is Portrait of a Young Man. The portrait demonstrates the increasing focus on perspective and identity among early Renaissance painters. Profile poses wer...

Page 1 of 5 Next >

More on Two Essays on Portraiture...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
Two Essays on Portraiture. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 09:58, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1710944.html