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Portrait paintings

Portraits and self-portraits with stories about artists and sitters. Examine poses, clothing and the objects around each person.

Paintings in this selection

125 artworks. Open a painting to read its story and explore its details.

Mona Lisa (Portrait of Lisa Gherardini) — Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci

Mona Lisa (Portrait of Lisa Gherardini)

1503–1519Girl with a Pearl Earring — Johannes VermeerJohannes Vermeer

Girl with a Pearl Earring

c. 1665Self-Portrait — Judith LeysterJudith Leyster

Self-Portrait

c. 1630Portrait of the Boy Eutyches — Unidentified painters of Roman EgyptUnidentified painters of Roman Egypt

Portrait of the Boy Eutyches

100–150 CEThe Night Watch — Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt van Rijn

The Night Watch

1642Mäda Primavesi (1903–2000) — Gustav KlimtGustav Klimt

Mäda Primavesi (1903–2000)

1912–13Las Meninas — Diego VelázquezDiego Velázquez

Las Meninas

1656The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge) — John Philip SimpsonJohn Philip Simpson

The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge)

1827Self-Portrait — Vincent van GoghVincent van Gogh

Self-Portrait

1887Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle (La berceuse) — Vincent van GoghVincent van Gogh

Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle (La berceuse)

1889Funerary Portrait of a Young Girl — Unidentified painters of Roman EgyptUnidentified painters of Roman Egypt

Funerary Portrait of a Young Girl

c. 25–37 CEFunerary Panel of a Man — Unidentified painters of Roman EgyptUnidentified painters of Roman Egypt

Funerary Panel of a Man

c. 138–192 CEMrs. George Swinton (Elizabeth Ebsworth) — John Singer SargentJohn Singer Sargent

Mrs. George Swinton (Elizabeth Ebsworth)

1897Old Man with a Gold Chain — Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt van Rijn

Old Man with a Gold Chain

1631Portrait of Yun Dongseom (1710–1795) — Unidentified Korean paintersUnidentified Korean painters

Portrait of Yun Dongseom (1710–1795)

ca. 1790–1805Funerary Portrait of a Woman — Unidentified painters of Roman EgyptUnidentified painters of Roman Egypt

Funerary Portrait of a Woman

c. 138–192 CEManuel Osorio Manrique de Zuñiga (1784–1792) — Francisco GoyaFrancisco Goya

Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zuñiga (1784–1792)

1787–88Cardinal Fernando Niño de Guevara (1541–1609) — El GrecoEl Greco

Cardinal Fernando Niño de Guevara (1541–1609)

ca. 1600Alessandro de' Medici — Pontormo,Pontormo,

Alessandro de' Medici

1534–35Edward VI as a Child — Hans Holbein the YoungerHans Holbein the Younger

Edward VI as a Child

probably 1538Portrait of Jean Gros (recto); Coat of Arms of Jean Gros (verso) — Rogier van der Weyden and workshopRogier van der Weyden and workshop

Portrait of Jean Gros (recto); Coat of Arms of Jean Gros (verso)

1460–64Portrait of a Young Man — BronzinoBronzino

Portrait of a Young Man

1530sThe Ambassadors — Hans Holbein the YoungerHans Holbein the Younger

The Ambassadors

1533Maharana Sangram Singh Riding a Prize Stallion — Stipple MasterStipple Master

Maharana Sangram Singh Riding a Prize Stallion

ca. 1712

A portrait brings together the sitter’s presentation and the artist’s choices. The sitter’s identity, the commission and the purpose of the work help explain visible details. Compare formal, family and other portraits, or follow the related tour about social status.

Artists

Related art tours

How to explore the paintings

On an artwork page, choose “Explore the painting”. Zoom in, move around the image and hide the text to see the details. Turn on the audio guide to hear the story, or use autoplay to move between passages.

Zoom quality depends on the available reproduction. Each artwork page lists its collection, story sources and image rights. Access is free and no account is required.

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