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.
Jeanne Marceron-Maille ( French, 1871-1934) : Portrait Of A Gentleman, Pastel
Beatrice Agnes Rust (1833-1893) : A Young Girl In A Black Dress , Watercolor
English school, 19th Century : Portrait of a Gentleman, unframed oil on canvas
Attributed To Avenir Parkhomenko (Russian) : Lady Seated, Oil On Canvas
Attributed To Etienne Jeaurat (1699-1789) : Beggar Boy , Oil On Canvas , Framed
Alfred Crowdy Lovett (British, 1862-1919) : Portrait of a Gentelman, watercolour
Antique Painting: Portrait Of A Young Lady , Pastel , Ornate Carved Wooden Frame
English school, 19th cent. : Portrait of a Lady, in folding brass, watercolour
British School (20TH Cen-ry) : Portrait Of An Aristocratic Lady , Oil On Canvas
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.