Free Essays on Portrait to Get Inspired & Learn by Example

Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is a novel about eternal youth and utter corruption of Dorian Gray’s soul which can be seen in his portrait. However, Dorian states "The portrait must be hidden away at all costs. He could not run such a risk of discovery again. It had been mad of him to have the thing remain, even for an hour, in a room to which any of his friends had access.” (Wilde 114) This passage exemplifies the overall theme of the novel because Dorian commits horrible crimes, tries to hide his actions from Continue reading...

Abstract

This research paper explores the motivation behind the Madonna and Child portrait as well as the meaning of this portrait. This portrait was sculpted by Antonio Rossellino at around 1475. Madonna and Child represent Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. The research paper finds out who was Antonio Rossellino and the representation of Madonna in art. The historical context of this sculpture is explored, and the portrait is examined closely. The various elements in the portrait space have specific meanings, and these meanings are unraveled. Art can be stretched to any level as seen in this sculpture. The sculpture Continue reading...

In the yesteryears, self-portraits were considered the artists’ way of expressing themselves whilst demonstrating their skills in manipulating colours in order to create stunning masterpieces. Due to the invention of the camera, more people are able to capture their ‘moments’ within a flick of a finger through their smartphones, tablets, and digital cameras. In his dissertation, Professor Azar Rejaie noted that one purpose of self-portraiture was for the sake of remembrance, and to honour an artist’s contribution to the society1. This type of painting differs from the regular painting. Painting one’s self requires more attention to the Continue reading...

WHAT MAKESA PICTURE WITH ONE OR MORE PEOPLE A PORTRAIT? WHY IS PORTRAITURE VALUABLE AND WHAT MAKES FOR A GREAT PORTRAIT? CAN YOU HAVE A PORTRAIT OF A FICTIONAL CHARACTER?

The generally accepted definition says that portrait is a painted presentation of one or more people. However, it is important to underline that the main subject has to be the person or several people, not an event they take part in. This fact was mentioned in the work “Portraiture” as it is what distinguishes a portrait from a picture with people on it. According to Cynthia Freeland, a portrait Continue reading...

In this paper, the realm of art will be discussed as it relates to The Picture of Dorian Gray. The novel is about a man who in his vanity has his portrait taken, but curiously, the portrait grows old while he remains young and debonair. He leads a double life, a life of the “pretty boy” on the town, “willful and petulant” (19-20), while, in his attic, the painting suffers the ingratitude of old age, the “hideous corruption of his soul” (152).. While the novel plays on the subject of a fantasy novel, the story is a metaphor Continue reading...

It is an interesting thing to learn about some of the outstanding self portraits that different artists have done. Have you ever imagined that if you are an artist you can do a self portrait that could narrate about you several years in the future? The obvious imagination is that artists should just do portraits for other people who are considered famous within the society. However, when I visited the Art Institute of Chicago, I realized that the idea of artists producing their self portraits is something that has been present for a long time in the history of Continue reading...

Self-portrait is an art that an artist uses to represent oneself, the first self-portrait ever known was created by Bek. A portrait is an image of the likeness of a person and puts emphasis on personal attributes. Some of the earliest portraits, which still exist are the portraits found in Fayum, Egypt. The portraits depict natural qualities like gracefulness and exhibit life-like characteristics. The characteristics depicted by different portraits are highly individualistic in nature, like the Fayum portrait.
The Fayum portrait tends to show a woman who is graceful and well poised. It is very specific, as it tends Continue reading...

The oil on canvas painting is a visual art (Giddings & Clifton, 45).The fundamental visual element on oil on canvas paintings are; shading, physical, lines, color, texture, and space. The success of an oil paint relies heavily on the artist’s complete master and the skills used on oil on canvas paintings essential visual elements. The essay analyses the Blue and Gold 1916 oil on canvas painting.
The artwork was a gift to the wife of the artist Roxana Grace Breckenridge, by her husband Hugh Henry Breckenridge. The painting was gifted to the school by the second wife of Continue reading...

Picture 1. Self-portrait. Albrecht Durer, 1500
In the year 1500, I completed a self-portrait (picture 1) using oil on canvas. I was 28 years old, still in my prime, both physically and artistically. It is this prime that I wanted to convey in this work, the image of a man of his time, and also the image of an artist as part of the higher classes of society. I wanted this image of myself to remain a testament of my likeness and my statues and have for this reason included the following inscription in the painting: ‘I, Albrecht Durer Continue reading...

Concerning the key goal of this paper, it is mainly about summarizing the book “Yours in Truth: a Personal Portrait of Ben Bradlee” by Jeff Himmelman; moreover, the paper argues that the abovementioned book is obviously worth reading due to many reasons. The thing is that the way Jeff Himmelman describes the career of Ben Bradlee, the former editor of Washington Post, enables the readers to come to understanding a variety of peculiar Bradlee’s special features from another angle. Moreover, the author makes attempt to eradicate the principles of commonplace thinking among ordinary people. As a result, a Continue reading...