Portraiture or Portrait Painting has been one of the most famous painting genres for a long time. Quite often believed to be one of the most challenging genres, portraiture is something that every influential artist has tried their hands on at least once in their career.
The primary focus of portraits is human subjects, usually the body’s upper portion, which needs to be authentic. Therefore, portrait painting requires a high degree of accuracy in representing the figure’s physical characteristics and sometimes even spiritual qualities.
Today we will learn more about some of the most famous portraits of all time. These have been created by legendary artists and have been popular ever since they were created. So if you are into portraiture, let’s hop in!
Mona Lisa – Leonardo Da Vinci
Not just one of the most famous portrait paintings of all time, but the “Mona Lisa” is, without a doubt, the most famous piece of artwork in the history of the art world. The Mona Lisa is a genuine work of art created by the “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo Da Vinci himself. Undoubtedly, it is the most talked about, most written-about, and most sung-about painting.
A portrait of incredible beauty and mystery, the Mona Lisa has been admired by millions of fans for over 500 years and continues to intrigue and confound the viewers. The portrait’s subject is said to be the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a Florentine silk merchant. However, nothing has been proved, and historians are still puzzled about the subject.
Dressed in delicate garments and without jewelry, the woman in Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is seated in front of a dreamlike mountainous scene. Her soft smiles and mysterious eyes continue to mystify millions of its viewers and fans, even today – as if the Mona Lisa bewitched its viewers.
The painting currently resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris. With an insurance value of $100 million in 1962, the Mona Lisa holds the Guinness World Record for the highest insurance valuation. Today, the amount equates to more than $870 million due to inflation rates.
Girl With A Pearl Earring – Johannes Vermeer
“Girl with a Pearl Earring” is yet another essential work by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and perhaps his most famous in the portrait genre. Painted in 1665, the painting is a significant artwork in Western art and is often dubbed the “Mona Lisa of the North.”
The girl in the portrait is adorning a beautiful dress, with a turban on her head and a pearl earring. The painting was supposed to be titled “Girl With A Turban,” however, Vermeer found “Girl With A Pearl Earring” much more interesting.
Renowned for the extreme attention to detail, in this painting, Johannes Vermeer paints a portrait of a young girl who, despite her humble station and plain dress, exudes nobility. The artist has carefully painted delicate features on the girl to make her stand out against the darker background. The yellow attire mixed with slight blue further complements the entire painting.
There have been numerous speculations about the girl’s true identity portrayed in the painting. One of the most prevalent theories is that the girl in the painting is Maria Vermeer, the eldest daughter of Johannes Vermeer. The masterpiece is currently housed at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands.
Napoleon Crossing the Alps – Jacques-Louis David
“Napoleon Crossing, the Alps” is a famous oil painting masterpiece created by Jacques-Louis David in 1801. The painting was commissioned by the then King of Spain as a token to show their newly reformed relationship with France.
The painting portrays Napoleon Bonaparte as the First Consul, who is seen leading his army across a dangerous mountain pass known as Saint Bernard. In the background, you can notice some soldiers with artillery racing up the mountain as Napoleon orders his troops to move ahead with his fingers raised.
The event presented in the picture is of May 1800, when Napoleon led his troops to the Austrians for a military campaign. The painting is also taken as a commemoration of the victory of Napoleon and his troops.
Napoleon Bonaparte was incredibly flattered by David’s portrait that he ordered three more versions of the painting. Jacques-Louis David even painted a fifth version of the painting, which the French artist kept at his studio. The painting is currently put on display at the Château de Malmaison in Rueil-Malmaison, France.
Portrait of Madame X – John Singer Sargent
American maestro John Singer Sargent is best known for his portraits of wealthy and aristocratic figures in both England and America. However, his artworks stole the hearts of thousands of worldwide art lovers. The reason being Sargent managed to focus on the delicate beauty of the subject.
Talking this particular painting titled “Portrait of Madame X,” the portrait features the beautiful and fashionable Madame Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau. An American herself, Madame Gautreau married a successful banker in France and had been residing there.
Sargent painted this enchanting portrait, showing the lady wearing a voguish black satin dress with shiny jeweled straps. The brilliance of the artist’s painting can also be seen in the tone of colors that he has chosen – the pale tone of the subject’s skin beautifully contrasts the darker shades of her dress and the background.
It is also worth mentioning that when the painting was first unveiled at the Salon in Paris, it caused controversy. The reason? The conservative members of French society thought that the satin dress and the relaxed pose of the figure were too provocative. The painting is currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan for the public to view.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, these are some of the most known portraitures in the art world’s history. The most common thing in all these paintings is that the hands behind these masterpieces are universally well-known, while the subjects are often less obvious or sometimes not known. And that is the beauty of portrait painting – the mystery hidden beyond the beautiful colors.
