| What is portrait painting? This can be explained as | | | | With the introduction of photography in the 19th and |
| follows: This kind of painting typically depicts a person's | | | | 20th centuries and the modern communication |
| face, from there, the word "portrait" originates. | | | | methods portrait painting changed fundamentally. Since |
| Furthermore, there are many portraits, old and new | | | | then, also "normal" people, who are striving for a little bit |
| ones, on which you can see the portraitee's whole | | | | of preservation, and who want to have themselves or |
| body. A portrait is painted with the intention to show all | | | | their beloved ones painted on a canvas, can have it |
| characteristics and features. The painter tries to | | | | done at affordable prices. |
| emphasize these details in a portrait. Upon the | | | | In today's contract painting, especially portraits of |
| portraitee's request, little blemishes and other visible | | | | children, grandchildren, parents and grandparents are |
| details can be omitted once in a while. They are simply | | | | very popular. In addition to that, depictions of beloved |
| kept "secret" as painters would call it. | | | | domestic animals, fancy cars or favorite landscapes |
| Already in ancient times (four thousand years BC) high | | | | are widely asked for. |
| standing personalities had themselves preserved for | | | | Nowadays, the ones who can afford it, order a portrait |
| posterity. Portrait painting originated in ancient Egypt, as | | | | painting as an individual birthday present. |
| many pictures in the pyramids of deceased show, but | | | | Good painters paint these portraits in such a precise |
| only in Greece this genre came to perfection. | | | | way that their similarity with the originals is astonishing |
| However, portrait painting was pushed into the | | | | and almost have the effect of photos. |
| background for a long time (until Renaissance) in favor | | | | Even changes are possible according to individual |
| of sculpture. | | | | demands Upon request, small blemishes can be |
| The main period of portrait painting only began with the | | | | omitted, as we have already mentioned above. |
| Italian painting of high Renaissance, e. g. by artists like | | | | What characterizes a good portrait painter? A portrait |
| Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raffael and Tizian. | | | | painter must be able to paint a person with all his |
| In the following centuries, portrait painting blossomed | | | | important features. He must be able to depict exactly |
| totally. For example, in the 17th century, Peter Paul | | | | what is really visible. You cannot simply go and change |
| Rubens was a contract painter in great demand. The | | | | a portraitee's features, because then the result would |
| ones who could afford it had themselves preserved | | | | no longer be a portrait. In the moment of portrayal, the |
| for posterity by this painter of Baroque, who was | | | | person who has himself portrayed offers the painter a |
| already those days well known. | | | | special depiction of himself with his own details and |
| Today, only a few people can afford an original | | | | features. Good painters are able to reach exactly this |
| painting made by an artist's hand. And an original | | | | what has been described above. This characterizes |
| Rubens painting is even more utopia. | | | | them. |