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