People

People for portraits

The tradition of portraiture was always centred on people of worth and power. In the modern world, it’s not only the very rich and powerful that have their portraits painted. Ordinary people that appreciate art, venture into having a painting produced of themselves or their loved ones.

People commission artists to produce portraits for many different reasons, some for vanity, or others to commemorate the passing of a loved one or to celebrate a certain event. Whatever their reasons for commissioning a portrait, having one produced is a special occasion.

Institutions such as universities or teaching hospitals, or large organisations that have important members within it have portraits produced in the traditional way. Photography doe’s play a role in portraiture, but painting and sculpture are still the predominant forms preferred.

Some of the wealthier people such as land owners, company directors, high sheriffs, and politicians all make up a proportion of the type of person that would commission a portrait. Other wealthy people noted as having portraits produced are professors, doctors, lawyers, judges, actors, musicians and especially rock stars. Of course the royal family are still the ultimate commission in the portrait world to receive and make great subject matter.

However, portraiture is now open to everyone and made more accessible, so people with modest incomes have portraits produced of their family or children. Quite often they tend to have a greater value of the finished piece, because of their commitment they’ve had to put into the getting the portrait produced. Portraits are enjoyed by people from all walks of life and are still important as a documentation of a special person captured in that moment of time.