Portrait Painting
A painting of a person, usually showing their face and expression.
What is it?
A portrait painting is a work of art that shows a specific person. The artist tries to capture not just what the person looks like, but also their personality or mood. Portraits can be of famous people like presidents or of ordinary people. They are often painted in oil on canvas. Rembrandt Peale's portrait of George Washington is an example. The artist used light and shadow to make Washington look dignified.
Why it matters
Portrait paintings are important because they help us remember what people from the past looked like. They also show us how artists saw their subjects. Many museums have portrait galleries.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more portrait paintings.