Portraits
Antique and vintage portrait paintings capture the people of the past with a directness no photograph matches. Our collection ranges from formal society portraits and character studies to intimate figure works, painted in oil and watercolour by British and European artists from the 18th to the 20th century.
Contemporary Painting: Portrait Of A Man , Oil On Canvas , Unframed
19th Century “Grandpa Allen” Family Portrait Watercolour Gilt Frame
19th Century Miss E. Allen Family Portrait Watercolour Ornate Gilt Frame
19th Century Family Portrait ‘Grandpa Cockman’ Watercolour Gilt Frame
William Garland (d.1882) : Portrait Of Louise Pike , Oil On Canvas , Signed 1843
Portraiture was frequently unsigned, so many fine examples are catalogued by school and period rather than by name — which is exactly where discerning collectors find quality at accessible prices. Each portrait is described with its medium, dimensions, period and condition, and many retain characterful original frames.
What you’ll find here
- Society portraits, character studies and figure paintings
- Oil and watercolour, 18th–20th century, British and European
- Named artists alongside works catalogued by school and period
- Original period frames on many pieces
Learn how portraits are attributed in Reading the Signature, see how to tell an original from a reproduction, or meet the artists behind the collection.