This room presents a series of full-length portraits painted between the 16th and early 20th centuries. Their different approaches to a particular format show how portraiture has evolved over time. The dynamic between artist and sitter can vary as much as the artists’ styles.
Most of these portraits were commissioned by the sitters or their families. Some are formal, costly productions from leading artists, intended to convey their subjects' rank and privilege. Others are more personal testaments to friendships.
In each portrait, every detail is carefully chosen and potentially meaningful. Clothing, for example, can reflect the sitter’s social status or reveal something about their character. Objects, such as a tapestry frame or a paintbrush, can hint at their passion or profession. And dogs may be a symbol of fidelity – or simply record the appearance of a close companion.
