Portrait painting serve the purpose of recording an outward appearance of an individual, mainly capturing the facial expression that is able to make oneself recognizable to the real person, at a particular moment in his/her life. Before photography was invented, family members from the noble family, wealthy people, officials, merchants would have their portrait painted. During that time, or the early centuries, artists were employed by all these affluent people. There do not have any choice: their position obliged them to paint what was demanded of them.

In the next following paragraphs, you will be reading different types of portrait paintings that have been practiced traditionally by master artists. You may see some of the illustrations below.

1. Profile portrait focused attention on the outline of the face without distracting you, as the viewer, with any particular expression. Side view is used, instead of other angle facing. It was to emphasized one’s authority and nobility, such as those ancient medals, coins or currency notes which you have seen. See illustration 1.1, The Liberty Head nickel

2. Frontal full view portrait painting during 15^th century, appears mostly for godly figures, myth and heroes, highly worshiped immortals. Theses rare portraits with only frontal view makes an important association between the model and God and eternity.

3. Three-quarter portrait is somewhere in-between, is considered better suited to illustrating the transitory nature of man. It allow the artist to play with nuance o expression. It is less commonly seen these days, that one will preferred three-quarter portrait.

4. Bust-Length portrait shows a person from the shoulders up. You will not see their hands with the portrait frame. See illustration 1.2, Portrait of Camille Pissarro

5. As compared to half-length portrait, you will see an individual who is either sitting on a chair or standing. Artist will paint any area from waist level onwards. Quite often, with their hands cross-folded or resting on the arm of the chair. One of the most popular half-length portrait is The Mona Lisa, painting by Leonardo da Vince.

6. Full-length portrait shows the subject standing up. Portrait of this kind were developed in the 16^th century. Such a pose is particularly aristocratic, majestic-looking, or even regal, underlining the social standing of the person. At times, the artist will include the surrounding landscape. This kind of paintings depict height of elegance and supremacy.

7. Self-portrait during the early days referred to artist who paint himself with the help of a mirror. It is stand-alone as works of art. The best artist in the late 19^th century, who self-portrait himself was none other than Vincent van Gogh. Over 30 pieces of his work consist of him. See illustration 1.3, Self-Portrait, Vincent van Gogh

8. State portrait is generally an official portrait, highlighting the social position of an individual and power he holds. See illustration 1.4, The Emperor Napoleon

9. Group portrait consist of 2 or more figures posing together, showing a significance of togetherness or unity. It is becoming popular these days that group portrait, including wedding couple, friends and family portrait, children portrait, or even with their pets, has been reproduce from photograph.

10. Photo portrait, as the term speak for itself. In this context, we are referring to painting directly from your photograph. It is different from portrait photography, where a mechanical device is involved, including digital editing from your computer. The uniqueness of photo portrait is capable of combining figures from different photographs and combine into one handmade paintings. Physical appearance of the model is not necessary. It is contemporary, yet preserving traditionalism.

Illustration 1.1, The Liberty Head nickel Image Credit: Flick	Illustration 1.2, Portrait of Camille Pissarro Image Credit: Wikipedia
	Illustration 1.4, The Emperor Napoleon Image Credit: Wikipedia

Portrait of Mona Lisa painting on wood used oil as the color medium, size at 77 x 53 cm, renaissance painting dated back in 1503. Painted by the famous Italian artist, Leonardo Da Vinci; master of all science. He was well known for his brilliant innovator in painting, as well as, areas of the (then) natural sciences, technology and architecture. Below, you will read about his portrait painting of Mona Lisa, perhaps the most famous of his work in whole of art history.

This portrait painting has received many questions around the world, yet many has remained unanswer. You may be asking why has this portrait painting been so famous. There is, in fact, no specific reasons or a right answer. As art, it is always sujected to your opinions and how you support it. I personally also trying to find out myself and to learn from you. Regardless of the attitude or expectation with which you look at the face of Mona Lisa, she looks back accordingly. In particularly, Mona Lisa’s smile; it is so magical and with beauty.

In the world of oil paintings, all, no-one has identified who the sitter is. You may have known that she is commonly referred as the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a Florentine official. However, Leonardo Da Vinci painted Portrait of Isabella d’Este in 1500, whom, many critics claimed to resemble her from side view.

As Leonardo Da Vinci has done before, in 1570′s, he staved to make this portrait more than merely a naturalistic depiction. He painted the outward portrait of a young woman, whose kind and peaceful eyes, with her gentle smile refer to something not can be expressed outwardly, the soul. For this reason the Mona Lisa painting does not seem to have been created from outward appearance, but from with 0 and the same might also be said of the folds of the mountains at the portrait background.

One of the his technique this Leonardo had acquired is sfumato. He achieved this effect by means of soft transitions of light and shade: things lose their rigidity, and reality appears hazy, vague, free of sharpness or hash contour. Mona Lisa smile and her vivid face is deliberately expressed with such technique; in which facial trait are not clearly definable.

Whatever it was, the paintings has cast its magic spell for centuries. As Jean-Pierre Mohen of Louvre has described, “The work actually produces a strange kind of rapture which is part of its greatness.”