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Portrait Paintings For Sale
Style: Surrealist
Style: Photorealist
Contemporary oil on canvas painting of woman lying on a bed (2016) - Vertenten
Located in Oostende, BE
'Room without a view' (2016) by Patrick Vertenten Born in 1964 in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium—Patrick Vertenten is a contemporary artist who paints from ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Haitian Couple in Bed Simultaneously Adjusting their Radios, Surrealism
Located in Miami, FL
Wilson Bigaud is an idea artist in who showcases visual ideas in many of his paintings. In this work, a married Haitian couple tunes their radios in sync as they lie in bed. Bigaud was greatly interested in radios, which appeared in many of his works. This work rises to the level of Surrealism in that Bigaud is doing more than just depicting a normal bedroom moment. There is something very strange and bizarre in the couple's synchronized actions. Also of note, it looks like the woman is swallowing the edge of the radio. Signed lower right in a handmade and hand-painted frame. Wear to the edges of board, including delamination in the corners, some dents and losses. Frame rubbing with associated wear. Areas of white discoloration to the bed and headboard...
Category

1960s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Boy and puppy
Located in Belgrade, MT
Madeline Luka (French 1894-1989) was a self taught painter known for her landscapes, portraits, nudes and still lifes. She typically portrayed her family and close friends set within...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Lithograph

Flight II. Amy Johnson. Surrealistic portrait of pioneering British aviator
By Tom Adams
Located in Segovia, ES
Amy Johnson CBE: Ordre de l'Empire britannique (1903-1941) was one of the most influential and inspirational woman of the twentieth century. She was the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia in 1930 and set a string of other records throughout her career. Even The Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, had been sufficiently impressed by Amy's achievement in flying solo to Australia. Althought Christie didn't name her directly, it was clearly Amy that her character was referring to in the novel « Peril at End House ». The book features Christie's famous character Hercule Poirot. In this painting Tom Adams use the technique of collage. Dimension with frame 89 cm H x 102 cm W x 7 cm D Dimension without frame 64 cm H x 87 cm W About the artist: Thomas Barclay Adams was born in Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A. to a family of distinguished architects and planners. He was trained at the Chelsea School of Art and Goldsmith's College between 1946-1950. In 1949 he received a National Diploma of Painting. Between 1953-60 Adams illustrated natural and Regimental history pages for Eagle and natural history features for Eagle, Girl and Swift. In 1958 he founded Adams Design Associates with Anna and Andy Garnett, where he produced large murals in the then-new medium of laminated plastic for various firms such as The Royal Bank of Scotland, Chartered Bank, Aspro Nicholas and Airscrew Jiewood. In 1960 Adams Design Associates became DANAD Designs with a group of architects and designers. In 1965 Adams joined his father, the late James W.R. Adams OBE, eminent town planner and landscape architect, who was planning and design consultant to the Poster Advertising Planning Committee, for whom he helped produce a book: "Posters Look to the Future". He mounted an exhibition at the Tea Center in Regent Street opened by Sir Hugh Casson in 1966. During this period, Adams met Virgil Pomfret and joined his artists' agency. Apart from a few gaps when pursuing other activities (like running art galleries), Adams has been with Pomfret ever since. With Virgil's representation, Adams began a career as a book cover illustrator, most notably for the early John Fowles' novels The Collector, The Magus and The French Lieutenant's Woman (Cape) and the now famous paperpack covers for Agatha Christie (Collins UK and Simon & Schuster USA). This period covered 1963-1975. A book on these cover paintings, with commentary by Julian Symons and an introduction by John Fowles was published in 1981 by Dragons World. Adams has won various awards for illustration, notably the American Society of Illustrators, The American Art Directors Association, and The Design and Art Directors Association, UK. In 1967 Adams opened the Fulham Gallery, which not only gave first exhibitions of some now famous artists, but was for several years the center of the late '60's phenomenon - the poetry print. With C.Day-Lewis (the Poet Laureate) and artist Joseph Herman and John Piper, Adams produced the investiture print for the Prince of Wales. Adams also designed posters for Mark Boyle's light shows (The Sensual Laboratory), going on tour with The Jimmy Hendrix Experience and The Soft Machine. His connection with the modern world of rock music continued when he met Lou Reed, an admirer of his Christie and Raymond Chandler covers. Reed asked Adams to design the cover for his first UK solo album. As a result of this friendship with Lou Reed, Andy Warhol offered to sponsor an exhibition of Tom's work in New York. Adams did eventually work in the States in the early 70's where he was asked by Marshall Arisman to teach at the New York Central School of Art. Around this time, having completed a private commission to paint a portrait of Benjamin Britten...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Signed Fabulous 19th Century Male Mustache Portrait Dutch Ripple Frame Drawing
Located in Buffalo, NY
Incredibly well executed and superb subject. A 19th century portrait of a handsome young man with a mustache. Framed in a Dutch ripple wood molding...
Category

1890s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait de Femme ( Self Portrait ? )
Located in Miami, FL
This is a possible self portrait by the famed female surrealist artist. It is also strikingly similar in style with it's exaggerated eyes to her portrait of Jean Genet, ( Leonor F...
Category

1940s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Mack" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 8.5” x 10.5” x 1” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. The Bee...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Charlie" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 9” x 12” x 2” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. The Human C...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Timmy" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 12” x 14” x 1.5” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. “The Boy ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting, "Iris" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 7” x 10” x 1” Magical Realism Acrylic Portrait Painting executed on Vellum by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase o...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Vellum

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Sailor" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 10.5” x 16.5” x 2.5” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. The ...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Marlowe" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 14” x 16” x 1” Magical Realism Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. The L...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Mixed Media Surrealist Portrait, "Mad Barber" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 13” x 15” x 2” Surrealist Mixed Media Portrait Painting executed on Wood Panel by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purcha...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel, Graphite

Surrealist Mixed Media Portrait, "'Prince' The Guide" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 16” x 16” x 2” Surrealist Mixed Media Portrait Painting executed on Wood Panel with Acrylic and Graphite by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Graphite

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Lloyd" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 10” x 12” x 1” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. Mothboy: W...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting, "Mr.P" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 12” x 19” x 5” Magical Realism Acrylic Portrait Painting executed on Vellum with Found Objects by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Found Objects, Acrylic, Vellum

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Lily" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 9” x 14” x 1” Surrealism Acrylic Portrait Painting executed by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. “T...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Cid" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 8” x 11” x 2” Surrealism Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. Carnivale’s...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Surrealist Acrylic Portraiture Painting, "Clark" by Christopher Polentz
Located in San Diego, CA
A 8.5” x 11.5” x 2” Surrealist Acrylic Portrait Painting by artist Christopher Polentz. A certificate of authenticity will accompany the piece upon its purchase or delivery. “Gopher...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

"For the Shear Fun of it" Charcoal Painting 29" x 21" inch by Casey Baugh
Located in Culver City, CA
"For the Shear Fun of it" Charcoal Painting 29" x 21" inch by Casey Baugh Medium: Charcoal on paper ABOUT THE ARTIST: Baugh's work can be described as narrative impressionistic re...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Charcoal, Paper

Devil Emerges from Surrealist Voodoo Drum - Sans titre (Diable)
Located in Miami, FL
An image of a horned devil with pointy claws and bat-like wings emerges from a Voodoo drum. He has with arms stretched out like a Christ figure. The drum grows out of a yellow plant-...
Category

1970s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Superhero
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Cesar Santander Superhero Original Oil Painting -- Please watch video in listing 16" x 20" original painting on board. This is a unique, original painting of which no copies have bee...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

A kite - 21st century, Young art, Figurative painting, Photorealism, A cat
Located in Warsaw, PL
KAMIL LISEK (born in 1980) Studied under the guidance of prof. Maciej Świeszewski at the faculty of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk. He graduated with distinction obtaining scholarships from both the Ministry of Culture and the Mayor of the city of Gdańsk. In 2006 he won the Grand Prix (ex...
Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Hunter, Mid-Century Photo Realist Drypoint Etching Portrait, Limited Edition
By Gilbert Schoenbrod
Located in Soquel, CA
An incredible photo-realist drypoint etching of a Native American man by Gilbert Adam Shoenbrod (American, 1903-1996), 1937. Titled "The Hunter", this hyper detailed portrait depicts...
Category

1930s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Drypoint

"Future Love" Oil Painting 72" x 60" inch by Casey Baugh
Located in Culver City, CA
"Future Love" Oil Painting 72" x 60" inch by Casey Baugh Medium: oil on canvas ABOUT THE ARTIST: Baugh's work can be described as narrative impressionistic realism. Specializing i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Villosa
Located in Dallas, TX
This work was featured at ComplexCon 2019 - November 2nd and 3rd in Long Beach, CA.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil

"Eating and Drinking I", surrealist, red, green, yellow, acrylic painting
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Eating and Drinking I” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 24 x 30 inches in reds, greens and yellows against a neutral background. What at first glance appea...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Mixed Media, Canvas

"Eating at the Airline Diner", surrealist, red, blue, yellow, acrylic painting
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Eating at the Airline Diner” is an acrylic on canvas with collage 30 x 30 inches in reds, yellows and blues with green accents. The iconic diner, in Queens, New York, i...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Mixed Media, Canvas

"Eating and Drinking II", surrealist, red, green, yellow, acrylic painting
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Eating and Drinking II” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 24 x 30 inches in yellows, reds and greens on a neutral background. In one sense an illustration o...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

"Coquelicot" Oil painting 12" x 12" inch by Casey Baugh
Located in Culver City, CA
"Coquelicot" Oil painting 12" x 12" inch by Casey Baugh Medium: oil on linen on panel Coquelicot - “Wild corn poppy” in old French vernacular, the term is nowadays also used to des...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil, Panel

Unbearable Lightness of Being. 2019, canvas, oil, 25x25 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Unbearable Lightness of Being. 2019, canvas, oil, 25x25 cm Abeltina Barbara (1988) graduated in 2017 from the Art Academy of Latvia with a Master’s degree in painting. She also hol...
Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Self portrait. 2019, canvas, oil, 40x30 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Self portrait. 2019, canvas, oil, 40x30 cm Abeltina Barbara (1988) graduated in 2017 from the Art Academy of Latvia with a Master’s degree in painting. She also holds a Master’s de...
Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Man Adjusting his Tie", surrealist, green, red, blue, yellow, acrylic painting
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Man Adjusting his Tie” is an acrylic painting on canvas 24 x 18 inches in greens and reds with blue and yellow color accents. The disheveled appearance of the man impli...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"The Lonely Crowd", surrealist, portrait, mixed media, acrylic painting
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “The Lonely Crowd” is a multi-colored acrylic painting on canvas with collage 40 x 60 inches. Blues, yellows and greens predominate while reds provide color accents. The...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

"Diver" Contemporary Figurative Surrealist Portrait painting
Located in East Quogue, NY
"Diver" - Surrealist portrait painting of a female emerging from the water with a pearl on her tongue by Paul Green. Acrylic on panel. Signed on back by art...
Category

1990s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

"Self Chaperone", surrealist, woman, portrait, mixed media, acrylic painting
Located in Natick, MA
John Baker’s “Self-Chaperone” is an acrylic painting on canvas with collage 28 x 22 inches in flesh tones, yellows and greys. The portrait depicts the inner conflict between uninhibi...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Yves Bady AL-Dahdah (Lebanese 1941) Lady of the Moon, 1981, Surrealist Painting
Located in Meinisberg, CH
Yves Bady AL-Dahdah (Lebanese, 1942) Lady of the Moon • Oil or Acrylic on heavy fiber board ca. 46 x 38 cm x 0.5 cm • Signed and dated lower left (19)81 • ...
Category

1980s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Paint, Fiberboard

Surrealist Painting, "After the Rains"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil on panel surrealist painting by San Diego artist, Kelley Sutphin. Its dimensions are 14.4"x26.4"x1.5". It is framed. A certificate of authenticit...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Dancing Lovers
Located in Sempach, LU
In this oil painting, I've blended abstract, figurative, and surreal elements to capture the fluid motion and raw emotion of an intimate dance. The intertwining forms, awash in shade...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Fleet-original photo realism seascape-still life painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"The Fleet" by Alina Hubarenko is a captivating original seascape painting that unveils a nostalgic and whimsical scene of paper boats gracefully navigating turquoise waters. Crafted...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil Pastel, Oil

Goddess the Violinist and Swan
Located in Sempach, LU
As the artist, I've poured my soul into this canvas, blending oils to evoke a sense of enigmatic allure and surreal wonder. With each stroke, I've strived to weave a narrative that t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Together we StandModern realism seascape-still life oilpainting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Together We Stand" by Alina Hubarenko is a heartfelt original seascape painting that beautifully captures the essence of unity and companionship. Crafted with meticulous detail in o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Oil, Linen

Lullaby for the Bouy-original Hyper realism still life-seascape-oil painting-Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Lullaby for the Buoy" by Alina Hubarenko is a mesmerizing original seascape painting that captures the essence of tranquility and serenity. Executed with precision and expertise usi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil Pastel, Oil

Mediterranean Glow-original realism ocean seascape oil painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Mediterranean Glow" by Alina Hubarenko is a captivating original seascape painting that bathes viewers in the radiant allure of the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Executed with precis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Linen, Oil

Ocean sunset -original hyper realism seascape oil painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Ocean Sunset," a masterpiece by contemporary artist Alina Hubarenko, skillfully captures the serene beauty of the sun descending over the vast expanse of the ocean. This enchanting ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Linen, Oil

Family Portrait, Large Surrealist Oil Painting Mother, Children, Neo Surrealism
Located in Surfside, FL
Hank Laventhol (1927–2001) was an American painter and master print maker. He worked in painting, graphics, sculpture and photography. Associated with ...
Category

1950s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Egg Girls on a bike
Located in Sempach, LU
I’ve written a book based on my Egg people and Characters such as the Conspirators. It is a fantasy novel that takes place in Egg Island and London. The story has a mix of good and bad characters, full of excitement, sadness, and intrigue. Egg Island is a mysterious place where you can find all sorts of creatures, such as dolphins, including a giant one as big as a ship and one even bigger one that sleeps at the bottom of the sea. Baboons who think they own the place, firebugs light up the village, giant turtles protect kids while swimming, Bright orange coconut crabs...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Wild Mediterranean-original contemporary Hyper realism seascape painting- Art
Located in London, Chelsea
"Wild Mediterranean" by Alina Hubarenko is an evocative original seascape painting that immerses viewers in the untamed beauty of the Mediterranean Sea. Created with precision in oil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil Pastel, Oil

Murdered doll acrylic on board painting surrealism Ubeda
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gustavo Úbeda (1930-1994) - Murdered doll - Acrylic panel Acrylic measurements 61x91 cm. Frameless. The painting by Gustavo Úbeda Romero (Herencia, 1930 – Sao Paulo, 1994) comes fro...
Category

1970s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Lovers, I’ll put a spell on you. (I was listening to Nina Simone)
Located in Sempach, LU
Each of the Lovers comes from Ta's memory and imagination, "my feelings, my memories, some good, some not so good, but I try to focus on the good ones, a dance I remember, a hug afte...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Conspirators you saying it's me?
Located in Sempach, LU
Ta's collection of conspirators is full of mischief and secrecy. Each character is always up to something naughty or scheming a dodgy deal, "I want a desperado feel to it, moody as i...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of Ambition
Located in Belfast, GB
Portrait of ambition Oil on Canvas 39 3/8 x 27 1/2 in 100 x 70 cm "The quirky manner in which Johnston pulls and twists narratives, highlighted by the realistic nature of his work, ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of consequence
Located in Belfast, GB
Portrait of consequence Oil on Canvas 35 3/8 x 23 5/8 in 90 x 60 cm "The quirky manner in which Johnston pulls and twists narratives, highlighted by the realistic nature of his work...
Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Surrealist Watercolour and Mixed Media, "Ne Nastupit bui!" (Wouldn't Come!).
Located in Cotignac, FR
Late 20th century mixed media surrealist painting by Yuri Ilyich Kononenko. Titled 'Ne Nastupit Bui!' (Wouldn't Come!). Signed with artists symbol bottom left. Fully signed, dated an...
Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Charcoal, Paper, Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil

High Drama Adventure Scene - Italian Illustrator Mid-Century Jules Verne
Located in Miami, FL
Original illustration was done by Renna for the novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne, published in 1963. What makes this work special is how brilliantly the subj...
Category

1960s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Illustration Board, Tempera

The plotting of the Conspirators
Located in Sempach, LU
In this vivid oil painting, I embraced cubism and surreal influences to create an ensemble of enigmatic figures, each cloaked in vibrant, contrasting colors, with intense, penetratin...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

I Am Not Alone 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"I Am Not Alone" by Joshua Salami is a captivating artwork that delves into the profound bond between a woman and her cherished pet, transcending the conventional role of a companion...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

10 Angry Men
Located in Sempach, LU
I have sent my work to over 65 countries and some significant landmarks such as Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair, 5th Ave New York, Malibu beach in California Hong Kong, Monaco, M...
Category

2010s Surrealist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Shop Antique and Vintage Portrait Paintings

An elegant and sophisticated decorative touch in any living space, portrait paintings have remained popular throughout the years and are widely loved pieces of art for display in many homes today.

Portrait paintings are at least as old as ancient Egypt, where realistic, lifelike depictions of the recently deceased — commonly known as “mummy portraits” — were painted on wooden panels and affixed to mummies as part of the burial tradition.

For centuries, painters have used portraiture as a means of expressing a subject’s nobility, societal status and authority. Portraits were given as gifts in Renaissance Europe, and a portrait artist might have been commissioned to help mark a significant occasion such as a wedding or a promotion to high office. Prior to the advent of photography, which eventually replaced painted portraits as a quicker and more efficient way of capturing a person’s essence, the subject of a portrait had to sit for hours until the painter had finished. And during the 18th century in particular, if an artist commissioned for a portrait struggled with how to adequately memorialize and capture a subject’s likeness, sometimes a portrait painting wasn’t completed for up to a year.

Whether it’s part of the gallery-style approach to your living-room or dining-room walls or merely inspiration as you devise an eye-grabbing color scheme in your home, a portrait painting is a timeless decorative object for any interior. A landscape painting or sculpture might give you the kind of insight into a specific region of the world or a different culture that you can ascertain only through art. Similarly, when you take the time to learn about the subject of a portrait painting that you bring into your home — the sitter’s history, the relationship between the sitter and the artist should one exist, the story of how the portrait came to be — that work can become intensely personal in addition to its place as an object for an art-hungry corner of your apartment or house.

On 1stDibs, visit a vast collection of famous portrait paintings or works by emerging artists. Search by medium to find the right portrait paintings for your home in oil paint, synthetic resin paint and more. Find portrait paintings in a variety of styles, too, including contemporary, Impressionist and Pop art, or search by artist to find unique works created by painters such as Mark Beard, Steve Kaufman and Montse Valdés.

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