Portraiture in Art

Discuss:
Have you ever created a
portrait or had a portrait
made of you? Why did you
decide to do so?
 Today, we are going to:

Learn about the

Define Look closely at
history of the
portraiture portraits over time
art form
But what is
a portrait?
A portrait is an artistic
representation of a person.

When you started

Portraits aim to capture and record school, it’s likely that
one of the artworks
a person’s appearance, personality, you created was a
interests, or mood. self-portrait!
 Before photography, a
A History painted, sculpted, or
drawn portrait was the

of Portraits only way to record

someone’s appearance.
 Let’s
think!
Who gets a portrait?
Who is depicted in each of these well-known portraits?
 Let’s
think!
Who gets a portrait?
Who is depicted in each of these well-known portraits?

Shah Jahan on a Terrace, Holding a Mount Rushmore Queen Elizabeth,

Pendant Set With His Portrait", Folio by Gutzon Borglum, 1941 artist unknown, 1900s
from the Shah Jahan Album by
Chitarman, 1654.
 Fun Fact:

Who gets a
portrait?
Creating paintings, sculptures, or
drawings takes time. Therefore, only
people who could afford to “Sitter” is the word for the person
commission (or pay for) a portrait posing for the portrait. This is
had one made of them. Portraits in because the person had to sit for a
history reveal who was wealthy or long time (sometimes weeks, with
breaks, of course!) for their portrait to
important at different times. be painted or sculpted.
Let’s take a Teaching Note: Duplicate this slide and
insert 2 to 3 of the following portraits for

closer look further instruction and discussion:

“The Wyndham Sisters: Lady Elcho, Mrs.

Adeane, and Mrs. Tennant” by John Singer
Sargent
What’s happening in this “Tilla Durieux (Ottilie Godeffroy, 1880–1971)” by
Auguste Renoir
artwork? “Lucas I 1986-87” by Chuck Close
“Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat” by Vincent Van
Gogh
“Untitled Film Still #21” by Cindy Sherman;
What do you see that “Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and
Hummingbird” by Frida Kahlo
makes you say that?
More contemporary portraits include:
“Barack Obama“ by Kehinde Wiley
“Damon Albarn” by Julian Opie

What more can you see? “The Historic Wayfarer” by Tim Storrier
Portraits Today
Let’s think:
What invention last century made
portraits easier to create?
Portraits Today
Discuss the following questions
with a learning partner:
What did the invention of
photography mean for
portraits?

What are some instances that

people get their photo taken?
How would they dress
according to each occasion?
Portraits Today
The invention of photography meant
that portraits could be created
quickly and cheaply. Today, it’s not
just famous and important people
who have their portraits taken.

With a learning buddy, brainstorm all the places we What do you think
can see portraits today. the word ‘selfie’ is
short for?
Final Thoughts
Would you rather be photographed or
painted for a portrait? Explain your
response to a learning buddy.
 References
”Portrait” Tate. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-
terms/p/portrait. Accessed 14 June, 2023
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