Self-Portrait With Two Pupils, Mademoiselle Marie Gabrielle Capel

The variety one can find in art is vast, from graphic design to portraiture, art takes place in almost everything. Packaging, architecture, website design, all these things have come from different walks of art. Portraiture however is one that has lasted throughout the history of art. Portraiture gives the viewer an insight into the person who is being portrayed, even if some of it will be false in some aspect.

A portrait is normally a commissioned piece of work or a self-portrait. Often times the painting or other medium of a portrait shows the subject in their best refinery, perhaps a little more attractive than they usually appear. A person, no matter the time period, get’s a portrait done of themselves as a status symbol or to present

to others how they would liked to be viewed. In the past particularly people would get an idealized version of themselves painted to present to others. The artist painting choses to show the best parts of a person to the viewer depending on the commissioners wants, and if it’s a self-portrait its what the artists wants people to view them as.
Jean Honoré Fragonard’s piece The Love Letter, although it may seem to be a portrait I believe it leans more towards a scene than a portrait. I believe it’s a scene because there is an action taking place, she is looking at the viewer as she smiles about a love letter she has recieved within a bouquet of flowers. The woman depicted within this piece wears a beautiful dress, not just the dress itself but the masterful way it is painted, such delicate brushwork to make the gown. The dress looks as if made from blue satin, trimmed with simplistic lace. This time periods dress is simple but beautiful. The artist wanted to make sure the viewer got how well made and expensive the garment was. The woman, although nameless, most certainly comes from a place of wealth. Not only does her gown and bonnet help depict this but also her surroundings, the well groomed dog sitting beside her, to the carved work desk she sits at. I believe this work of art might just in fact be depicting a stereotype, the high class woman who belongs to another man receiving love letters from the man she truly desires. No matter the purpose there was meaning behind this piece one way or another.
An example of a portrait is El Greco’s Cardinal Don Fernando Niño de Guevara. This is what I would declare to be a portrait, a depiction of a person doing little to nothing, just sitting as if waiting to be drawn. This piece itself is very flat, 2D, it’s as if he has no legs underneath the robe he wears. The artists attempts to make it look more realistic with intense shading in places but there is not enough mass under the robe to show that there is an actual person within. The Cardinal himself looks like the type of man who tries to be extremely serious but ends up coming off as somewhat of a goofball. At his feet sits a discarded piece of paper that looks like it has his name written on it, perhaps it’s a letter giving good news in which he is trying to hide the smile on his face which is why I feel he might be a bit of a goofball. In the background it looks as if there is an armoire next to him with an intricately designed wall paper behind it. The Cardinal himself was depicted in to what appears to me as worn robes, he has been in a Cardinal for some time. As to his hands I believe there is some type of authority trying to be depicted while the matching rings on both hands show some sort of wealth to him. This work is a perfect example of a portrait.
Another good example of a portrait is Rembrandt van Rijn’s Self-Portrait. This is basically a shining example as to what a portrait is. A simple composition of Rembrandt from the waist up. When an artist paints themselves they try to capture themselves as best they can, me as an artist can relate to the difficulty of trying to capture oneself into a piece. I feel Rembrandt stayed true to his appearance, a man growing old through the times. One can see the wrinkles on his forehead, his hair turning from brown to gray, the bags under his eyes from old age, it’s clear to see he painted himself a true portrait. He was most likely trying to capture himself as best as he can because painting oneself is one of the most difficult tasks, it’s extremely hard to be happy with the way it turns out. I would like to think the lighting was chosen to be where it is to capture his best features or signs of old age that were more noticeable. His background is simple, making him the main focus point which he should be. To the lower right hand corner of the background we get to see Rembrandt’s signature. Meanwhile he depicts himself in a less than luxurious way, yes there is some detailing around the collar but besides that everything is simple but skillfully painted, it’s clear to see that his focus behind this piece was to capture his face. This is yet another great example of a portrait.
Last but now least Adélaïde Labille-Guiard’s, Self-Portrait with Two Pupils, Mademoiselle Marie Gabrielle Capel (1761-1818) and Mademoiselle Carreaus de Rosemond (died 1788), which I have a difficult time deciding whether or not this piece is a scene or a portrait.

I think it’s safe to say it’s both. The artist unlike Rembrandt decided to portray herself in her best outfit, a lady of higher standing. She is clearly showing she has status with her outfit, it’s satin or silk fabric trimmed with bows and lace, a beautiful hat placed on top of her head. Her outfit versus her students is vastly more detailed, most likely to distinguish that she is the more experienced artist who has a greater wealth. But to point out that she is important enough to have students she made it clear that she had any by painting them into her own portrait. The artists depiction of herself painting is lovely, beside her on the footstool one can see her other art supplies while behind her you can see the rest of her studio. If the viewer were to look closer you they may see her signature on the back of her eazl, personally I love it’s placement it’s as if she had it there to begin with on the back of it so no one would be confused as to which eazl belonged to who. This amazingly detailed piece is a must

see.
Portraiture is staple in art and it’s history. Even today most people of wealth will commission a well known artist to get a portrait from. They are some of the best works in existence and should be looked at as great examples for artists to come when trying to capture the likeness of someone.