El Greco, 1582
The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest
Portraiture is a strange tradition. Before the invention of the camera, many artists devoted a large part of their practice to creating likenesses of the rich and powerful—a convenient and consistent means of paying the bills between grander commissions for religious or history paintings. It can be easy to overlook portraits today, when the names and histories of the sitters are lost. read more
