Portrait Art Through The Years Quiz

"The Arnolfini Portrait" is an oil painting on an oak panel created by Jan van Eyck in 1434, now housed in the National Gallery, London.

The work is a full-length double portrait of the wealthy Italian merchant Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini and his wife, presumably in their home in Bruges. The portrait is known for its intricate detail and symbolism. For instance, the mirror on the back wall reflects the entire room in detail, including the backs of the couple and two additional figures standing in the doorway (one of whom is likely the artist). The small, fluffy dog at the couple's feet is a common symbol of fidelity and loyalty in marriage.

Historically, this portrait was created during the Early Northern Renaissance art period. Jan van Eyck was one of the most significant figures in Early Netherlandish painting, and this work is a prime example of that time which features naturalism and an innovative use of oil paint.

"Mona Lisa" is a half-length portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci, created between approximately 1503 and 1519. It is one of the most famous paintings in the world and is housed permanently at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

The subject is widely believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy Florentine silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo. Her expression is one of the painting's most famous attributes. Her smile appears to change and her eyes appear to move. This is accomplished through Leonardo's use of shadows and blending.

Historically, this painting was done during the peak of Renaissance artistic achievements. This period of time highlighted techniques such as linear perspective, complex compositions, and a technique called sfumato (meaning "smoked" or "softened"). It was sfumato that gave a soft and subtle quality to works like "Mona Lisa".

The work "Portrait of Jane Seymour" was painted by the German artist Hans Holbein the Younger, who served as the court painter to King Henry VIII. The original oil painting was completed around 1536-1537 and is currently housed in a museum in Vienna, Austria.

The painting depicts Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII and, very importantly to him, the mother of his long-awaited male heir, Prince Edward. Her clothing highlights her status in society and her royal jewelry tie her to the king. Holbein's choice of a background of a single color puts the focus on Jane.

Historically, the work was completed in the Northern Renaissance art period. This accounts for the intricate detail in the portrait, the rich colors of the oil paint, and the symbolism of the objects such as the jewelry.

Caravaggio's "Portrait of a Courtesan" (also known as "Portrait of Fillide" or "Cortigiana Fillide") was an oil painting created by Merisi da Caravaggio between approximately 1597 and 1599. The original masterpiece was destroyed in a fire in Berlin, German, in 1945 during World War II and is now known only from photographs and contemporary copies.

Fillide Melandroni was one of Caravaggio's favorite and most frequent models, as she had a friendship with him. The man who was her pimp, Ranuccio Tomassoni, was later killed by Caravaggio in a violent brawl in 1606, adding a layer of dramatic personal history to the painting's context. The subject holds a sprig of jasmine, which was a contemporary symbol of erotic love.

Historically, it was completed during the emerging Italian Baroque art period. This accounts for the sharp contrast between light and dark in the portrait. The period also was marked by stark realism, as Caravaggio utilized by choosing a prostitute to be the subject.

"Self-Portrait" was created by Peter Paul Rubens between 1638-1640, and finished just two years before his death. It is located in a museum in Vienna, Austria.

In the painting, Rubens depicts himself with dignity and a serious, direct gaze toward the viewer. He is in his early 60s at the time and is wearing fine clothing and a sword, which was a symbol reserved for the elite class. Not only was he an artist, but he was also a diplomat for the Spanish Netherlands. The portrait makes use of rich colors and fluid brushstrokes.

Historically, this was done during the Flemish Baroque art period. In this time period, portraits emphasized a high degree of realism, meticulously capturing textures like that of the rich clothing he is wearing. There is also dramatic use of light and shadow which helps focus on the sitter rather than the background.

"The Chocolate Girl" is by the Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Liotard, painted in pastel on parchment around 1744-1745. It is currently held in an art museum in Dresden, Germany.

The portrait depicts an anonymous young domestic servant, likely a Viennese maid, in a three-quarter profile pose. The girl carries a serving tray holding a porcelain cup of drinking chocolate and a glass of water. The luxurious item highlights the fact that chocolate was an expensive, exclusive beverage at the time, available only to the wealthy elite. Liotard's fine application of pastel on parchment shows almost no brushstrokes and makes the subject seem very real.

Historically, the portrait is placed in the Rococo art period. This a reason why the portrait features delicate, pastel colors with soft, flowing lines. During this time period, subjects are usually involved in leisure activities like a garden party, or in this case, a chocolate tasting.

"Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne" is an oil painting completed in 1806 by the French artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. The painting is held at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, France.

Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, is seated full-face on a grand, circular-backed throne, looking directly at the viewer. He holds a scepter in one hand and the Hand of Justice (a rod topped by an ivory hand) in his other. The giant throne gives a halo effect around his head, suggesting an almost god-like status. The painting is also notable for its deliberate distortions of form and space, particularly the way the head is slightly separated from the body.

Historically, this portrait was done within the Neoclassical art period. Like the image of Napoleon, works at this time drew heavily from the art of ancient Greece and Rome are were characterized by strong outlines and dark, sober colors. This period is also reflected in the cold, unemotional expression, conveying dignity rather than passion.

"Portrait of a Lady of Seville" is an oil painting by the American artist Mary Cassatt, completed in 1873 during her travels in Spain. It is held in a private collection.

Cassatt traveled to Spain in 1872-1873 seeking new subject matter, and painted this unnamed young woman in traditional Spanish attire. The portrait shows the various textures convincingly, from the delicate lace of the mantilla to the fabric of the dress. The subject appears very self-assured and proud of her heritage as she holds a fan and gazes outward.

Historically, this portrait falls into the Realism art period. Portraits at the time often showed ordinary people in their natural state and without embellishing features. Artists, like Cassatt at this time, paid close attention to creating precise details, including accurate textures, surfaces, and expressions.

"The Portrait of Lady Evelyn Cavendish" is an oil on canvas painting created by the American artist John Singer Sargent in 1902. It is held in a private collection.

Lady Evelyn Cavendish, who later became the Duchess of Devonshire, was a prominent member of British high society. Sargent was a leading portrait painter of his time and he captured this woman's luxurious life style and high social standing. He used dark, rich colors in this work and focused on details of the fabrics, jewelry, and skin tones.

Historically, this work was completed in the Edwardian era and associated with Realism and the "Grand Manner" of portraiture. Portraits like this were characterized by a focus on accurately capturing the sitter's physical appearance and social standing as seen with Lady Cavendish. Lighting was also used to enhance the realism and emotional tone of the portrait.

"The Two Fridas" is an oil painting on canvas by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, completed in 1939. It is currently housed in the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City.

It is a double self-portrait and the artist's first large-scale work. It depicts two seated versions of Frida Kahlo, holding hands, against a stormy sky. The figure on the left is the "European" Frida and shows her wearing a white dress with blood spilling from her heart. The figure on the right is the "Mexican" Frida and she is wearing a traditional dress and she is holding a miniature portrait of Diego Rivera. A symbolic blood vessel connects the two figures.

Historically, this 1939 work falls into the Modern Art era of the 20th century. Whereas this work does characterize the exploration of the subject's inner life or psychology, it also can fall under the umbrella of Surrealism with its distortions of reality and dream-like quality. It also has elements of Mexican folk art. Kahlo herself said, "I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality."