Since ancient times, portraiture has been a way to memorialise human faces. The origin of the practice dates back to sometime around 2500BC, early examples of which include the bust found in the tomb of Prince Ankhhaf in Egypt. Over the millennia, portraiture has become an intrinsic part of art and its history.
50 Portraits You Should Know features, you guessed it, 50 portraits by some of the world’s greatest artists — da Vinci, Goya, Matisse — from as early as the 14th century to the end of the 20th century. Each portrait in the book epitomises a significant period in the history of art, as well as a watershed moment in the artist’s career.
The book also introduces the evolution of portraiture. Detailed explanations, clear illustrations and biographies of the artists are included in the book. Readers will find the artwork easy to digest
In the past, when humans’ individual personalities were not prioritised, a portrait like Portrait Of Jean Le Bon (John The Good) was certainly hard to come by. It stands out among other portraits produced in the 14th century. The facial features of the portrait’s subject are unconventionally individualised, a stark contrast from most medieval portraits that often portrayed subjects with a more generalised appearance.
Around 1503-06, da Vinci’s Mona Lisa arrived. The iconic work proved fascinatingly experimental at the time, as da Vinci tried to change the way women were often demurely portrayed. The work reshaped the concepts of feminine beauty and modesty, which is the reason why Mona Lisa is considered the most prominent woman in the art world.
In 1665, Jan Vermeer created Girl With A Pearl Earring, which did not become renowned until the 19th century — it carried too much naturalism and immediacy for the time. But now, looking at its qualities, it is amazing to see that the contemporary-looking portrait was created in the 17th century.
In the 20th century, Andy Warhol rocked silkscreen pop art against the advent of photography, using the art form as a household tool of portraiture. He created scores of colourful masterpieces, one of the most memorable being his Turquoise Marilyn.
The rest of the artists and their works are not less interesting than the ones mentioned above, and are further explored in 50 Portraits You Should Know. Readers will understand why it is worth knowing the featured portraits in the book, as its title forcefully suggests. The book will certainly make a good read for people who appreciate art.
Mourning Portrait Of The Duchess Of Alba by Francisco De Goya, 1797.
