A European Portrait

An image of a person is called a portrait.

If you want to remember what someone looked like, you would probably take a photograph. Before the camera was invented people would have their portrait drawn or painted.

In this painting, Rubens was practicing portraits by painting the same person from different angles. What can you tell about this man from his portrait? Can you tell how old he is, when he lived or if he is happy or sad?

HANDS-ON ART CONNECTION: Drawing a Portrait

Ask a friend or family member to sit for you while you draw
his or her portrait. Remember to include expressions and
clothing. Use the guidelines below for help in placing facial
features. To look at a guide, click HERE.

• The head is not round. It is shaped more like an egg.
• Eyes are located halfway between the top of the head (skull
  not hair) and the bottom of the chin.
• The distance between the eyes is equal to the width of one eye.
• The nose is the width of one eye.
• The mouth is halfway between the nose and chin.
• The corners of the mouth line up with the pupils of the eye.
• The top of the ear lines up with the top of the eye.
• The bottom of the ear lines up with the bottom of the nose.

MATERIALS

• Blank paper
• Pencil
• Eraser
• A friend to act as your model

For more information about this object, visit our European Collection.