Leonardo's Mona Lisa, Michelangelo's sculpture of David & Sargent's The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit
Walk into a museum, government building, university library or private club in any part of the world, and you will likely see fine portraits painted by great artists hanging on the walls.
It’s a tradition in almost every society to celebrate important people by commissioning an artist to paint their portrait. And even when the subject is a child, family member or hired model, the portraits are often considered to be among the most important pictures that artist created.
For example, Leonardo’s painting of Mona Lisa is a portrait of an unknown woman, and Michelangelo’s sculpture of David is a portrait of a young model.
Individuals, families, organizations and institutions have long considered portraits to be symbols of honor, position, tradition and history. A portrait is a depiction of the subject’s appearance and personality as interpreted by the artist, the process of which requires great talent and many hours of labor.
In a rapidly changing world, a fine portrait is an emblem of stability, as well as of artistic achievement, and can be cherished for a lifetime.
While some have worried that having a portrait painted of themselves is egotistical or vain, we encourage people to remember that the end result may be a painting of them, but it’s probably not intended for them. It’s really meant for loved ones, a state capital, a company or institution. It’s a record of someone’s life and accomplishments that will be admired by generations to come.
As the world’s oldest, largest and most esteemed portrait company, Portraits, Inc. was founded in 1942 in a Park Avenue storefront in New York. Portraits, Inc. has curated a collection of more than 150 of the world’s finest portrait artists offering a range of styles and prices in fine portraiture. Portraits, Inc. is recognized as the industry leader and provides expert guidance in commissioned portraits for discerning clients.
