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Portrait Paintings For Sale
Union of Black Brothers -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Modern, Love Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
About Artist
Top...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
Portrait of Janet Thurston Newbold
Located in Milford, NH
A fine full length portrait of Janet Thurston Newbold by Russian American artist Ossip Perelma (1876-1949). Perelma was born in Odessa, Russia, studied at the Imperial Academy in Pet...
Category
1920s Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Portrait of Sir Henry Wotton in a Black Doublet & Ruff, Fine & Rare Carved Frame
By Cornelius Johnson
Located in London, GB
A feature of this exquisitely rendered oil on panel portrait, presented by Titan FIne Art, is its remarkable seventeenth century carved auricular / Sunderland frame – a splendid and ...
Category
17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Portrait of a Boy in Profile
Located in Stockholm, SE
The painting titled Portrait of a Boy in Profile, likely by Friedrich Wasmann (1805–1886), exemplifies the refined portraiture characteristic of the Biedermeier period. Executed in o...
Category
Mid-19th Century Other Art Style Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Portrait of Lady Catherine Edwin (Montagu) in a Woodland c.1697; Fine Provenance
By Michael Dahl
Located in London, GB
This exquisite portrait, presented by Titan Fine Art, is by Michael Dahl; it was part of the extensive collection owned by Thomas Wyndham of Clearwell Court in Gloucestershire. It ma...
Category
17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Prince Valdemar Christian of Schleswig-holstein of Denmark, signed L de Moni
Located in London, GB
The portrait of Prince Valdemar Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, painted after Justus Sustermans, captures the young prince in a moment of poised elegance. Depicted as a young man, t...
Category
Late 18th Century Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Cornish Fisherman Signed Antique Oil Painting Portrait Old Sea Salt Sailor
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Cornish Fisherman
Signed by David W. Haddon (British, flourished end of the 19th century)
Oil on board, framed
framed: 13 x 11 inches
board: 10 x 8 inches
Provenance: Private col...
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Huge 1940's Circle of Fernand Leger Figurative Portraits Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Figurative Portraits
French School, illegibly signed and dated 47'
circle of Fernand Leger (French 1881-1955)
oil on canvas, unframed
canvas: 38 x 58.5 inches
Provenance: private col...
Category
Mid-20th Century Cubist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Portrait Of A Lady, Stilte Family, 17th Century by Jan Cornelisz VERSPRONCK
Located in Blackwater, GB
Portrait Of A Lady, Stilte Family, 17th Century
by Jan Cornelisz VERSPRONCK (1597-1662)
Large 17th Century Dutch Golden Age portrait of a lady identified as a member of the Stilte family, oil on cradled panel. Excellent quality and condition portrait of the lady wearing a ruff and cap with elaborate lace work and a gilded embroided dress...
Category
17th Century Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Cat Therapy
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, we see a minimalist room with a huge window, beyond which stretches a sky filled with fluffy white clouds. Muted colors dominate—the blue of the sky contrasts beaut...
Category
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
"Let Them Eat Cake" (2014) by Suzy Smith, Original Oil Painting, Portrait
By Suzy Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Suzy Smith's "Let Them Eat Cake" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a female nude with a crown set against a backdrop inspired by a Wayne Thiebaud cake ...
Category
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil, Panel
19th Century English Victorian Head Portrait of Terrier Dog Scruffy Character
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Head Portrait of a Terrier
English artist, 19th century
oil on canvas, framed
framed: 16.25 x 14.25 inches
canvas: 12 x 10 inches
Provenance: private collection, England
Condition: ...
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Antique English Dog Painting Head Portrait Jack Russell Terrier 19th Century
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Head Portrait of Jack Russell Terrier Dog
English School, 19th century
signed oil on canvas, framed
dated 1895
framed: 16.25 x 14.25 inches
canvas: 12 x 10 inches
Provenance: privat...
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
West Highland Terrier: dog portait by artist to the King Napoleon III 1856
Located in Norwich, GB
A beautiful mid 19th Century dog painting by the undisputed king of the genre, artist Louis Godefroy Jadin (1805-1882). Jadin is known for having ...
Category
1850s Academic Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Don't Rush Life 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Africa Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Where am from Bandana was once a common style, we called it Big Boy Style, then it’s seem to me like a style or fashion only, because our elder brothers only allowed to used it but n...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Fine 16th Century Flemish Old Master Oil on Panel The Holy Family Museum Quality
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Holy Family
attributed to Adrien Thomas Key (Flemish c.1544-1590)
oil painting on wood panel (cradled): 24 x 26 inches
frame: 34 x 35 inches
condition: for its considerable age, ...
Category
16th Century Mannerist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
MID 20th Century VERY INTERESTING LARGE Oil Painting TWO SUSPICIOUS SPANISH MEN!
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: G.C.Neale (mid 20th Century) Spanish / English School
TITLE: "Two Suspicious Men At Night"
MEDIUM: oil on canvas
SIZE: 95cm x 80cm inc frame
NOTES: This original oil paint...
Category
Mid-20th Century Expressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Hunting Dogs at the Kennel" Jules Bertrand Gélibert (1834-1916)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
.Hunting Dogs (Great Nivernais) at the Kennel, 1901"
Jules-Bertrand Gélibert (1834-1916)
Oil on canvas
24 x 19 (frame) inches
"Great Nivernais" can refer to several things, primar...
Category
Early 1900s Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
''Poseidon and Amphitrite'' Contemporary Painting of Boy and Girl in Pool
By Amy Devlin
Located in Utrecht, NL
Amy Devlin portrays people, animals, or nature in her works. But what really matters to her is light and water, which she wants to capture in the form of a physical memory. By follow...
Category
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Black Indian Chief by African-American Artist, Contemporary Painting on Paper
Located in New york, NY
By contemporary African-American artist Bai (Carl Karni-Bain) a portrait of a black indigenous Indian chief. Acrylic, oil pastel, and ballpoint pen, The Black Indian Chief, 2024 30 x...
Category
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Rag Paper, Ballpoint Pen
Hunt Slonem "Scotch" Black Outline Bunny on White Background
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Scotch" Black Outline Bunny on White Background
A single rabbit gestured in black on a white background in a vintage frame
Unframed: 6 x 4 inches
Framed: 8.5 x 6.5 inch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Fine 17th Century Florentine Baroque Old Master Oil Painting St. John Evangelist
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
St. John the Evangelist
circle of Carlo Dolci (Florence, 1616-1686)
oil painting on canvas, framed
canvas: 30 x 25 inches
framed: 36 x 32 inches
condition: relined canvas, presented ...
Category
17th Century Baroque Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Fine 17th Century Dutch Old Master Oil on Cradled Panel Portrait of Young Lady
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Noble Lady
Dutch Old Master, 17th century
oil painting on cradled panel, framed in 17th/ 18th century frame
framed: 16.5 x 14.5 inches
panel: 12 x 10 inches
Provenanc...
Category
17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Portrait of Renaissance Lady Classical Medici Style Garden Italian Ornate Frame
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Renaissance Lady
Roman School, circa 1890-1900 period
oil on board, framed in original Italian ornate frame
framed: 17.5 x 16.5 inches
board: 11 x...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
19th Century, Portrait of a Young Girl
Located in Stockholm, SE
A young girl with a bob haircut, gazing downward, wrapped in a shawl or blanket. A red hairband adorns her head. Oil on canvas mounted on cardboard, this captivating portrait, painte...
Category
1880s Other Art Style Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Francis Bacon 'Portrait of Michel Leiris', 2017, Vintage
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is a reproduction of a Francis Bacon's painting Portrait of Michel Leiris, originally created in 1976. This work is a notable example of Bacon's ability to capture the psycholog...
Category
2010s Modern Portrait Paintings
Materials
Offset
The Reader by Alexandre de Spengler - Oil on canvas 54x73 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Alexandre de Spengler (1893–1973) was a Swiss painter and engraver active in Geneva and Paris.
He is known for his land and seascapes, as well as...
Category
1950s Modern Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Women in Indigo Portrait Contemporary Art Original oil Painting One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Eduard Matevosyan
Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind
Medium: Oil on Panel
Year: 2025
Style: Portrait Art,
Title: Woman in Indigo
Size: 16" x 12" x...
Category
2010s Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Framed 19th Century Oil - The Hunter
Located in Corsham, GB
A charismatic portrait depicting a hunter on the trail, paused, hand out in hesitation as he strains to hear something in the underbrush. Unsigned. Presented in a distressed gilt fra...
Category
19th Century Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Travesti Hairy Diva oil on canvas painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: "Travesti, Hairy Diva"
Artist: Unknown
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 24.4 x 20.5 in
Period: 21st century
Framing: Unframed
Work Description
"Travesti, Hairy Diva" is a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"In Repose" (2025) By Matt Talbert, Original Oil Painting, Portrait
By Matt Talbert
Located in Denver, CO
Matt Talbert's "In Repose" (2025) is an original, handmade oil painting on panel that depicts a portrait of a brunette seated at a table in deep contemplation.
Artist bio/statement...
Category
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
A Boy and His Book by Italian Artist Bernadino Giani
Located in Stockholm, SE
We are pleased to offer this charming and rare oil painting by the Italian artist Bernardino Giani (1823–1886), dated 1867. The painting depicts a young boy kneeling on the floor, de...
Category
1860s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Paper, Oil, Wood Panel
Fine 17th Century Dutch Old Master Oil on Cradled Panel Portrait of Young Lady
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Young Noble Lady
Dutch Old Master, 17th century
oil painting on cradled panel, framed in 17th/ 18th century frame
framed: 16.5 x 14.5 inches
panel: 12 x 10 inches
Pro...
Category
17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
17th century Dutch Old Master Portrait Painting of a girl with a dog
Located in Aartselaar, BE
Magnificent Dutch 17th century old master portrait of a young girl, possibly a princess, with a dog, attributed to Jan de Baen
With its shimmering colors, a cheerful lapdog, and flu...
Category
17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
18th century French Old Master Portrait of a woman in oriental costume
Located in Aartselaar, BE
French 18th century old master portrait of a majestic lady dressed "à la Turque"
The sitter at the viewer with a kind and enigmatic smile and twinkling eyes. She looks elegant and kind, yet also has an intelligent and determined aura, reflecting the character of someone who is in charge of her own life and destiny.
De Silvestre paid great attention to her spectacular outfit, which is striking in its portrayal of the sumptuous fabrics and their decorative richness. She is wearing a luxurious royal blue robe à la...
Category
1740s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Contemporary figurative acrylic painting of a woman with lemons on canvas
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This artwork, titled 'Enjoying Lemons", vividly portrays a faceless young woman with a distinctive, abstract style, done in a figurative manner with a touch of art naïf.
Created by...
Category
2010s Abstract Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Christ on the Cold Stone – After Jan Gossaert (Mabuse)
Located in Stockholm, SE
This striking devotional image, painted by a follower of Jan Gossaert, represents one of the most influential compositions of the Northern Renaissance: Christ on the Cold Stone, or C...
Category
16th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
"Meringues" (2015) by Suzy Smith, Original Oil Painting, Portrait
By Suzy Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Suzy Smith's "Meringues" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a female nude set against a backdrop inspired by a Wayne Thiebaud pie painting.
About the ...
Category
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil, Panel
Daughters of Spain oil on canvas painting young woman
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: "Daughters of Spain"
Artist: Juan José Barreira Polo (1887-1957)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 31.5 x 27.5 in (80 x 70 cm)
Framing: Unframed
Signature: Signed at the lower left corner as "J. Barreira"
Period: Approximately first half of the 20th century
Movement/Style: Realist Costumbrismo, Spanish Academicism
Description of the Artwork
"Daughters of Spain" is a remarkable example of Spanish Costumbrismo, where Juan José Barreira Polo masterfully captures the essence of national identity and tradition. The painting portrays two young Spanish girls in traditional attire, exuding warmth and natural grace.
The older girl, with a gentle smile, wears a richly embroidered blue shawl and has flowers adorning her hair, while delicately holding a copper jug filled with vibrant orange flowers. Beside her, the younger girl, with an innocent and joyful expression, holds a doll dressed in red with floral embellishments, evoking the charm of childhood and cultural heritage.
The well-balanced composition and softly blurred background enhance the presence of the figures. Barreira Polo employs a warm color palette and skillful lighting to create harmony, while his refined brushwork and attention to detail in facial expressions and textiles reflect his academic training. The artwork conveys a profound sense of cultural pride and nostalgia for Spain’s rich traditions.
Artist’s Biography
Juan José Barreira Polo (Valencia, March 31, 1887 – Valencia, January 30, 1957) was a Spanish painter specialized in portraits and costumbrista scenes. Son of the painter Vicente Barreira Meliá, he trained at the Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia, where he obtained his degree as a drawing professor in 1933.
Throughout his career, he gained recognition for his representations of Spanish traditions and culture, receiving several awards at various exhibitions. In 1925, he won first prize in the Valencia City Council's poster competition. In addition to his pictorial work, he was an editorial board member of the magazine Semana Gráfica, contributing to the artistic and graphic culture of his time. His paintings, known for their exquisite detail and vibrant colors, are part of private collections worldwide and are admired for their ability to capture the spirit of Spanish heritage.
Similar Artists and References
The style of Juan José Barreira Polo is associated with other realist and costumbrista painters, such as:
José Mongrell...
Category
1930s Academic Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Black Sea. Ukraine
Located in Zofingen, AG
Two figures stand, facing the horizon, their eyes fixed on a missile flying horizontally. Its fiery trail cuts through the calm sky, and the moment hangs between “there’s still time”...
Category
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Man Holding a Jug (The Sense of Taste)
Located in Stockholm, SE
This evocative 19th-century painting is the work of a follower of the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Toorenvliet, known for his finely rendered genre scenes. Titled Man Holding a Jug ...
Category
Early 19th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Board
Original Antique English Dog Picture Head Portrait in Gilt frame
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Head Portrait of a Dog
English School, 19th century
oleograph on paper on board, framed glass covered
framed: 13 x 11.5 inches
board: 9.5 x 8 inches
Provenance: private collection, E...
Category
19th Century Victorian Portrait Paintings
Materials
Digital
Mid 19th Century French Portrait of Woman in Large White Headpiece Large Oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Woman in Traditional Headpiece
French/ Swiss, dated 1855
signed oil on canvas, framed
dated 1855
framed: 34 x 27 inches
canvas: 32 x 25 inches
Provenance: private coll...
Category
Mid-19th Century French School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Mid 19th Century French Provincial Oil Portrait of Lady & Her Dog, framed
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Lady with her Pet Dog
French School, mid 19th century
oil on canvas, framed
framed: 36 x 28 inches
canvas: 29 x 20 inches
Provenance: private collection, France
Conditi...
Category
Mid-19th Century French School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
French Empire Period Portrait of Fashionable Young Lady Antique Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Young Lady
French School, early 1800's period
oil on canvas, unframed
canvas: 26 x 21 inches
Provenance: private collection, France
Condition: some crazing and pronoun...
Category
Early 19th Century French School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Echoes of the Avant-Garde: Mid-Century Visions XI
Located in London, GB
'Echoes of the Avant-Garde: Mid-Century Visions XI', oil on board (circa 1970s). Step into a world where the spirit of early 20th-century modernism meets the bold experimentation of ...
Category
1970s Cubist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Lost
By TankPetrol
Located in Manchester, GB
Tankpetrol, Lost, 2023
Acrylic, hand-cut stencils, spray paint copper paint on deep edge canvas
100 x 150 cm (39.37 x 59.05 in)
Original artwork
Polish-born Irek Jasutowicz bett...
Category
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Spray Paint, Acrylic
Angelic -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman, Nature, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
Ships in a well-protected tube.
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
About Artist
Josue M Pierre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Echoes of the Avant-Garde: Mid-Century Visions IX
By STM
Located in London, GB
'Echoes of the Avant-Garde: Mid-Century Visions IX', oil on board (circa 1970s) by STM. Step into a world where the spirit of early 20th-century modernism meets the bold experimentat...
Category
1970s Cubist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
TIME TRAVEL
Located in CÓRDOBA, ES
Original art by Daria Kusto.
acrIcrylic on wotercolor paper.
The magic flow reality...
Shipped free
well protected
unframed.
Category
2010s Neo-Expressionist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Permanent Marker, Acrylic, Watercolor
Huge Antique Dutch Old Master Oil Painting The Jewish Bridge after Rembrandt
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Jewish Bridge
antique Dutch School, after the 1660's oil painting by Rembrandt (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
oil painting on canvas, framed in its antique gilt frame with ornate mould...
Category
Late 19th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Huge British Mid 20th Century Portrait of a Bank Manager Signed Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Bank Manager
by Stuart Scott Somerville (1908-1983)
signed oil on canvas, framed
Framed: 56 x 47 inches
Canvas: 50 x 40 inches
Provenance: private collection, UK
Condition: very ...
Category
Mid-20th Century English School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Portrait of Scottish Terrier and Wire Fox Terrier Dog Companions Pastel Drawing
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
L.W.Fraser
English, mid 20th century
Terrier Dogs
Original pastel drawing, signed on artist paper
Glass covering
Framed: 16 x 11 inches
Provenance: private collection, England
Cond...
Category
Mid-20th Century English School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Pastel
"Enjoy the Good Life" Pop Art Mixed Media Collage on Canvas Painting
By Jojo Anavim
Located in New York, NY
This piece depicts iconic Logos with vintage news paper clippings from the mid century. We find Rolex lower right, with other Americana imagery through out. Celebrating icons from th...
Category
2010s Pop Art Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Newsprint
Antique French Signed Oil Painting Portrait of a Boston Terrier Dog
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Boston Terrier
French artist, mid 20th century
oil on on canvas, framed
framed: 18 x 15 inches
canvas : 16.5 x 13 inches
Provenance: private collection, UK
Condition: a very few ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Dog Portrait: The Red Terrier, circa 1910
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Red Terrier
Possibly Dutch School
Oil on wood panel, circa 1900-1910. Initialed lower left
7 1/2 x 7 (12 x 11 1/2 frame) inches
A charming and thoughtfully rendered depiction of a t...
Category
Early 1900s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
"Crimson Murmurs" - Oil on Linen Figurative Painting With Red Birds
Located in Denver, CO
Alexandra Manukyan’s “Crimson Murmurs” (2024) is an original oil painting executed on linen mounted to aluminum gallery wrap, measuring 30 x 24 inches (32 x 26 inches framed). This e...
Category
2010s Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Linen
Original English Antique 19th / 20th Century oil painting PORTRAIT OF A GIRL
Located in Cirencester, GB
ARTIST: George Henry Grenville Manton (1855-1932) English
TITLE: "A Sketch From Life"
MEDIUM: oil on canvas
SIZE: 86cm x 76cm inc frame
CONDITION: original condition, images taken i...
Category
Late 19th Century Realist Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Portrait Paintings for Sale on 1stDibs
An elegant and sophisticated decorative touch in any living space, portrait paintings have remained popular throughout the years and are widely loved pieces of art for display in many homes today.
Portrait paintings are at least as old as ancient Egypt, where realistic, lifelike depictions of the recently deceased — commonly known as “mummy portraits” — were painted on wooden panels and affixed to mummies as part of the burial tradition.
For centuries, painters have used portraiture as a means of expressing a subject’s nobility, societal status and authority. Portraits were given as gifts in Renaissance Europe, and a portrait artist might have been commissioned to help mark a significant occasion such as a wedding or a promotion to high office. Prior to the advent of photography, which eventually replaced painted portraits as a quicker and more efficient way of capturing a person’s essence, the subject of a portrait had to sit for hours until the painter had finished. And during the 18th century in particular, if an artist commissioned for a portrait struggled with how to adequately memorialize and capture a subject’s likeness, sometimes a portrait painting wasn’t completed for up to a year.
Whether it’s part of the gallery-style approach to your living-room or dining-room walls or merely inspiration as you devise an eye-grabbing color scheme in your home, a portrait painting is a timeless decorative object for any interior. A landscape painting or sculpture might give you the kind of insight into a specific region of the world or a different culture that you can ascertain only through art. Similarly, when you take the time to learn about the subject of a portrait painting that you bring into your home — the sitter’s history, the relationship between the sitter and the artist should one exist, the story of how the portrait came to be — that work can become intensely personal in addition to its place as an object for an art-hungry corner of your apartment or house.
On 1stDibs, visit a vast collection of famous portrait paintings or works by emerging artists. Search by medium to find the right portrait paintings for your home in oil paint, synthetic resin paint and more. Find portrait paintings in a variety of styles, too, including contemporary, Impressionist and Pop art, or search by artist to find unique works created by painters such as Mark Beard, Steve Kaufman and Montse Valdés.
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On the eve of a new exhibition just north of New York City, the nonagenarian contemporary-art icon talked with ‘Introspective’ about his long and ongoing career, the development of his signature style and his rather malleable definition of realism.