What is a portrait in art?

Portraits are works of art that record the likenesses of humans or animals that are alive or have been alive. The word portraiture is used to describe this category of art. The purpose of a portrait is to memorialize an image of someone for the future. It can be done with painting, photography, sculpture, or almost any other medium.

Why is portrait photography so popular?

A Brief Introduction to Por... Portrait photography, or portraiture, remains one of the most popular genres of photography today—and for good reason. Portraits are compelling; they are evocative. Portraits tell a story; they elicit an emotion. Shot correctly, a portrait can reveal the true essence of a person, who they are and what they feel.

What is the most famous portrait in the world?

Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" (ca. 1503) is probably the most famous portrait in the world and it was painted on a 2-foot, 6-inch by 1-foot, 9-inch poplar panel. Many people do not realize how small it is until they see it in person. Artistic portraiture is a popular category of art.

What role did portraiture play in history?

This newly designated role for portraiture was behind the formation of the earliest portrait galleries, such as Charles Willson Peale's Gallery of Illustrious Personages which opened in Philadelphia in the 1770s, and featured many figures who had signed the Declaration of Independence.