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