portraiture

a word picture of a person's appearance and character the activity of making portraits

Portrait also means a document or image where height is greater than width (opposite of Landscape position).'' A portrait is a painting, photograph, or other artistic representation of a person. Portraits are often simple ''head shots'' or ''mug shots'' and are not usually overly elaborate. The intent is to show the basic appearance of the person, and occasionally some artistic insight into his or her personality.The art of the portrait flourished in Roman sculptures, where sitters demanded realistic portraits, even unflattering ones. During the 4th century, the portrait began to retreat in favor of an idealized symbol of what that person looked like. (Compare the portraits of Roman Emperors Constantine I (emperor)Constantine I and Theodosius I at their entries.) In Europe true portraits of the outward appearance of individuals re-emerged in the late Middle Ages, in Burgundy and France. , 1575, one of the earliest known]]One of best-known portraits in the Western world is Leonardo da Vinci's painting titled ''Mona Lisa'', which is a painting of an unidentified woman.Some of the earliest portraits of people who were not kings or emperors, are the funeral portraits that survived in the dry climate of Egypt's Fayum district (''illustration, right''). These are the only paintings of the Roman period that have survived, aside from frescos. When the artist creates a portrait of himself, it is called a self-portrait. The first known in paint was by the FranceFrench artist Jean Fouquet in c. 1450,abcgallery.com but if the definition is extended the first was by the Egyptian Pharoah Akhenaten's sculptor Bak, who carved a representation of himself and his wife Taheri c. 1365 BC. However, it seems likely that self-portraits go back to the Cave paintingearliest representational art.Portrait photography is a popular commercial industry all over the world. Many people enjoy having professionally made ''family portraits'' to hang in their house, or special portraits to commemorate certain events, such as graduations or weddings. Since the dawn of photography people have made portraits. The popularity of the daguerreotype in the middle of the 19th century was due in large part to the demand for inexpensive portraiture. Studios sprang up in cities around the world, some cranking out more than 500 plates a day. The style of these early works reflected the technical challenges associated with 30-second exposure times and the painterly aesthetic of the time. Subjects were generally seated against plain backgrounds and lit with the soft light of an overhead window and whatever else could be reflected with mirrors. .]]As photographic techniques developed, an intrepid group of photographers took their talents out of the studio and onto battlefields, across oceans and into remote wilderness. William Shew's ''Daguerreotype Saloon'', Roger Fenton's ''Photographic Van'' and Mathew Brady's ''What-is-it?'' wagon set the standards for making portraits and other photographs in the field. ic portrait by Yousuf Karsh of Albert Einstein. 1948. Gelatin silver print.]]In politics, portraits of the leader are often used as a symbol of the state. In most countries it is common protocol for a portrait of the head of state to appear in important government buildings. Excessive use of a leader's portrait can be indicative of a personality cult.In literature the term ''portrait'' refers to a written description or analysis of a person or thing. A written portrait often gives deep insight, and offers an analysis that goes far beyond the superficial. For example, American author Patricia Cornwell wrote a best-selling book titled ''Portrait of a Killer'' about the personality, background, and possible motivations of Jack the Ripper, as well as the media coverage of his murders, and the subsequent police investigation of his crimes.The term ''portrait'' also describes the orientation of a rectangular piece of paper, painting or other graphic, denoting that the long axis is vertical. When the long axis is horizontal, it is said to be in landscape mode.

See also -

Hierarchy of genres

The Portrait Now

''The Portrait of a Lady'', a novel published in 1881 and a film in 1996

Painting the Century 101 Portrait Masterpieces 1900-2000

External links -

npg.si.edu - National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution

npg.org.uk - National Portrait Gallery London

npg.org.uk - Painting The Century 101 Portrait Masterpieces

research.umbc.edu - Jeanne Ivy's Self-Portrait Page - ''What Artists Find When They Search in the Mirror''.

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk - Portrait Detectives - Fun interactive introduction to the analysis of portraiture.

reportret.info - Reportret - A gallery of reconstructions of missing portraits from world history.

? towleroad.com - An example of a video self-portrait the subject is Andy Towle (.mov file)wiktionary CommonscatPortrait CommonscatSelfportrait Category:Portrait art Portraitcategory:Photography by !genrede:Porträtes:Retratoeo:P ortretofr:Portraithe:דיוק� �nl:Portretja:肖像pt:Auto-re tratosv:Porträttzh:自画像< /text> DEBUG REDIRECT (portrait)

portraits in tempera and oils, portretten in tempera en olieverf
Commmissioned contemporary portraits and landscapes by Dutch artist using traditional tempera and oil techniques.
http://www.renetweehuysen.nl/

Sandro Kopp Art
Paintings by Sandro Kopp
http://www.sandrokopp.com/

Apexphotos travel photography
Presents magical travel, environmental and abstract photography from around the world. You can view, browse, link and buy.
http://www.apexphotos.com/

James Cheadle Photography
UK based Photographer specialising in creative portraiture for Editorial and Advertising. James also shoots cars and motorbikes and motoring stories.
http://www.jamescheadle.com/

Valhalla Studio
Creative Digital Photography
http://www.valhallastudio.ca/

Light iMAGINATION
Travel photography and other - by a freelance photographer Petr Jerabek.
http://www.lightimagination.net/

CSP Carol Slater Photography
Female Photographer available for WEDDINGS, PORTRAITS,LIVE MUSIC AND EVENTS.Based in Brisbane Australia. Phone 0414 852 220 or email carol@c-s-p.com.au
http://c-s-p.com.au/

Paul Murphy Photography
Serving Sonoma County Wine Country.
http://www.paulmurphyphotography.com/

Toronto Photographer - Weddings, Events, Fashion, Portraits
studioEPIC is a professional photography studio comprised of a group of talented and experienced photographers. We specialize in Wedding, Engagement, Portraiture, Child and Commercial Photography. Book us for your wedding and expect exceptional service and images. Feel free to visit our website at www.studioEPIC.com or contact us at studio@studioEPIC.com or call 416.554.EPIC for more information.
http://www.studioepic.com/

Blanche Mackey Photography
Photographer specializing in portraits and childrens photography
http://www.blanchemackey.com/

Virginia, University of - Program in American Studies
Affiliated with the Department of English at UVA.
http://xroads.virginia.edu/

The National Portraiture Association
The National Portraiture Association - original fine art portraiture by nationally recognised artists.
http://www.natportrait.com/

Portraiture.com
Your source for fine portraits in oil, for families and institutions. See how it's done. These are portraits that will live for generations. They are also art.
http://www.portraiture.com/

Bullmastiffs of Opalguard Australia
Dedicated, successful breeders and exhibitors of Australian and International Champion Bullmastiffs for the show ring and for loving family companions. Established 1989. Please visit our website for photos, pedigrees and more information about our dogs and the Bullmastiff breed in general.
http://www.angelfire.com/nb/opalguard/index.html

Dan's Creative Portraiture
Photography studio in Coudersport,PA that does senior portraits, weddings, babies, sports, families, copy old photographs, and web page design.
http://www.seniorportrait.com/

National Gallery of Art
Has one of the finest collections in the world, illustrating major achievements in painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to the present. Site allows visitors to search the collection, or tour by medium and school. In-depth sections and foreign-language guides are also available.
http://www.nga.gov