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.
Cyril J. Ross ROI (1891-1973) : Portrait of a Rabbi, signed oil on canvas, board
John Henry Amshewitz (1882-1942) : Study Of A Young Lady , Oil On Canvas ,Signed
Sir Joseph Noel Paton (19TH Cen-ry) : A Florentine Nobleman , Watercolor , 1848
After Sir Peter Lely : Portrait Of Sir Charles Hemeys Bark Wife , Watercolor
After Giuseppe Tarantino : Portrait Of A Young Girl , Print , Signed 1974
Antique Painting (19th Century) : A Young Fisherman with a Flute, oil on board
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.