30 Famous Portrait painters That History Will Remember

Frida Kahlo Photo sourced from Wikimedia

30 Famous Portrait painters that History Will Remember 

Portraits are paintings of people which provide information on the person’s background, including information about their culture and broader social and cultural context. Artists from all over the world have been responsible for immortalizing and documenting human development by painting portraits over the years.

Whether on wooden panels, towels, napkins, or whatever canvases were at hand these artists did a great job with brushes and the materials they used. As a result, historically speaking, portrait paintings are among the most significant works of art. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous Portrait painters;

1. Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)

A portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Leonardo di ser Piero Da Vinci famously known as just Leonardo Da Vinci, born on 15th April 1452 and died on 2nd May 1519 was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect.

Leonardo is widely regarded to have been a genius who epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal, and his collective works comprise a contribution to later generations of artists. He is one of the greatest painters ever and is known for painting the greatest portrait painters of all time, the Mona Lisa.

Read more about him here

2. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)

John Singer Sargent born on January 12th, 1856, and died on April 14, 1925, was an American expatriate artist, considered one of the leading portrait painters of his generation for his evocations of Edwardian-era luxury. He created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings.

He is arguably known as one of the greatest and most famous portrait painters of the modern era whose paintings are different and truly unique and are the seamless amalgamation of the classical art form and the impressionist style of painting.

3. Rembrandt van Rijn (1606- 1669)

A self portrait of Rembrandt Van Rijn Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn born on 15th July 1606 and died on 4th October 1669 and usually known as just Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and, draughtsman. Rijn’s paintings are especially notable for their ability to capture fine details and exceptionally sensitive depictions of the human face.  

Unlike most Dutch masters of the 17th century, Rembrandt’s works depict a wide range of styles and subject matter, from portraits and self-portraits to landscapes, genre scenes, allegorical and historical scenes, biblical and mythological themes, and animal studies.

4. Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599- 1641)

Sir Anthony van Dyck born on 22nd March 1599 and died on 9th December 1641 was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy. He is one of the most known portrait painters.

He is best known for his portraits of members of the aristocracy, most notably Charles I, his family, and colleagues. In addition, he created paintings of mythological and biblical themes, including altarpieces. His fame goes more and wide across the globe.

5. Diego Velazquez (1599-1660)

A portrait painting of Diego Velázquez Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez born in 1599 and died on August 6th, 1660 was a Spanish painter, the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV of Spain and Portugal, and of the Spanish Golden Age. He was also an individualistic artist of the Baroque period.

In addition to numerous renditions of scenes of historical and cultural significance, he painted scores of portraits of the Spanish royal family and commoners. He remains a great inspiration to artists across the world, thanks to his complex depictions and unique style of painting.

Read more about him in Pure Genius: 20 Famous Oil Painters

6. Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520)

Raphael Sanzio born on March 28th, 1483, and died on April 6th, 1520 was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance who is often celebrated for the perfection and grace of his paintings and drawings. He is among the best portrait painters. 

Together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period. He mostly painted projects of the Vatican which took most of his time, although he painted several portraits.

7. Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543)

Hans Holbein the Younger, self-portrait Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Hans Holbein the Younger born around c. 1497 and died between 7 October and 29 November 1543 was a German-Swiss painter and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style and is considered one of the greatest portrait painters of the 16th century.

His paintings were characterized by great attention to detail and a unique fusion of simplicity and grandeur that would captivate the onlooker. Holbein always made highly detailed pencil drawings of his portrait subjects and often supplemented them with ink and colored chalk. 

8. Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527–1593)

Giuseppe Arcimboldo born in 1526 or 1527 – 11 July 1593 was an Italian painter best known for creating imaginative portrait heads made entirely of objects such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and books. He remains one of the best portraitists.

His remarkable skills made him one of the most sight after painters, going on to paint some of the most powerful families of his time. He became the Royal Painter in the courts of Italian emperors Ferdinand I, Maximilian II, and also Rudolf II.

9. Amy Sherald (1973)

Amy Sherald born August 30, 1973, is an American painter. She works mostly as a portraitist depicting African Americans in everyday settings. Her style is simplified realism, involving staged photographs of her subjects.

Since 2012, her work has used grisaille to portray skin tones, a choice she describes as intended to challenge conventions about skin color and race. Her influence and achievements have earned her a place on our list today.

10. Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675)

The only supposed portrait of Jan Vermeer Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Johannes Vermeer born in 1632 and died in 1675, was a Dutch painter who is most famous for his meticulously crafted, luminous portraits and genre scenes. His works are also highly regarded for their technical mastery, luminosity, and sensitivity to the subtleties of light, color, and form.

Vermeer’s portrait paintings are characterized by restrained elegance and a focus on the individual personality of the sitter. He also tended to depict his subjects in quiet, contemplative moments, often against plain backgrounds that draw attention to the sitter’s face and attire.

Read more about him in Top 10 Famous People From The 1600s

11. Francisco Goya (1746-1828)

Francisco Goya born in 1746 and died in 1828, was a Spanish painter and printmaker. His portrait paintings are notable for their psychological depth and realism and he was also able to capture the personalities and inner lives of his subjects in a way that was rare for his time.

He was particularly skilled at painting the faces and expressions of his subjects, using light and shadow to create a sense of depth and emotion. His portrait paintings demonstrate his remarkable skill as a painter and his ability to capture the complexity of human emotion and experience.

12. Jan van Eyck 

Jan van Eyck was a Flemish painter who is considered one of the most significant artists of the Northern Renaissance. He is mostly known for his portrait paintings, which are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail and their ability to capture the individuality and personality of the sitter.

Van Eyck’s approach to portrait painting had a significant influence on later artists, more especially his use of oil paint and attention to detail paved the way for a more realistic and naturalistic approach to portraiture that would continue to evolve over the centuries.

13. Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)

A portrait of Sir Peter Paul Rubens Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Peter Paul Rubens was a Flemish Baroque painter known for his bold use of color and dramatic, dynamic compositions. He was among the most talented portrait painters of his time. His portraits are characterized by their vividness, expressiveness, and attention to detail.

He was particularly skilled in capturing the personality and character of his subjects, often using exaggerated poses and expressions to convey their energy and spirit. He developed a style in which he made his portrait paintings that were unique from the rest of the painters of his time.

14. Titian (1488-1576)

Titian born around 1488 and died in 1576, was an Italian Renaissance artist known for his skillful use of color and his ability to capture the personality and character of his subjects in his portraits. He was particularly famous for his portraits of members of the Venetian aristocracy.

He was also famous for his depiction of religious and mythological scenes. Titian’s portrait paintings are characterized by their realism and attention to detail. He often depicted his subjects in a naturalistic setting, such as in the outdoors or a domestic interior.

15. Caravaggio (1571-1610)

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, famously known as just Caravaggio born on 29 September 1571 and died on 18 July 1610, was an Italian portrait painter who employed close physical observation with a dramatic use of chiaroscuro that came to be known as tenebrism.

He made the technique a dominant stylistic element, transfixing subjects in bright shafts of light and darkening shadows. Caravaggio vividly expressed crucial moments and scenes, often featuring violent struggles, torture, and death. He worked rapidly with live models, preferring to forgo drawings and work directly on the canvas.

16. Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)

Joshua Reynolds Self Portrait Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Sir Joshua Reynolds born on 16th July 1723 and died on 23rd February 1792 was an English painter who specialized in portraits. He was one of the major European painters of the 18th century and he promoted the “Grand Style” in painting which depended on the idealization of the imperfect.

Reynolds was renowned for his ability to capture the likeness and character of his subjects in his portraits. He often used classical poses and gestures, as well as luxurious fabrics and props, to create a sense of drama and importance in his portraits.

17. Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788)

Thomas Gainsborough born on 14th May 1727 and died on 2nd August 1788 was an English portrait and landscape painter, draughtsman, and printmaker renowned for his portrait paintings, which were highly sought after during his time.

His portraits are known for their elegance, refined composition, and fluid brushwork, which captured the spirit and personality of his sitters. His works were influential in the development of the Romantic movement in English art and his legacy continues to inspire artists to this day.

18. Edvard Munch (1863-1944)

Edvard Munch born on 12th December 1863 and died on 23 January 1944 was a Norwegian portrait painter whose approach to portraiture was highly individualistic and expressive. His achievements in the art world are often overshadowed by artists like Van Gogh but he remains an important part of the history of art.

He often used bold, gestural brushstrokes to capture the inner emotional states of his subjects, rather than focusing on their physical appearance. His portraits often have a haunting and eerie quality, with his subjects appearing to be caught in moments of psychological turmoil.

19. Édouard Manet (1832-1883)

Édouard Manet Photo source from Wikimedia

Édouard Manet born on 23 January 1832 and died on 30th April 1883 was a French modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.

While he is most often associated with the Impressionist movement, he also played a significant role in the transition from Realism to Impressionism. Manet painted many portraits throughout his career, both of his friends and acquaintances, as well as individuals he encountered in his daily life.

20. Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)

Pierre-Auguste Renoir born on 25th February 1841 and died on 3rd December 1919 was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. He had a talent for capturing the personality and character of his subjects, and his portraits are often filled with warmth, humor, and humanity.

Renoir’s portraits are characterized by their loose, fluid brushstrokes and their emphasis on light and color. He often used bold, bright colors to create a sense of vitality and energy in his paintings, and his subjects are frequently depicted in natural poses and settings.

21. Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

Vincent van Gogh – Self-Portrait Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Vincent Willem van Gogh born on 30th March 1853 and died on 29th July 1890 was a Dutch Post-Impressionist and portrait painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history. His portraits often featured close-up views of his subjects’ faces, which he rendered with intense and vibrant use of color.

One of Van Gogh’s most famous portrait paintings is the series of self-portraits he created throughout his life where he often depicted himself with a somber or intense expression, and are notable for their use of bold color and brushwork.

23. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Pablo Ruiz Picasso born on 25th October 1881 and died on 8th April 1973 was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and theatre designer mostly known for his revolutionary approach to portraiture

This approach often involved distorting and abstracting the human form in ways that challenged traditional notions of beauty and realism. Throughout his career, Picasso painted numerous portraits, often of his friends, lovers, and fellow artists

24. Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)

Frida Kahlo Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo famously known as just Frida Kahlo born on 6th July 1907 and died on 13th July 1954 was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Her self-portraits often incorporated elements of her personal life, including her physical and emotional pain.

Kahlo is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of the 20th century and her work has had a significant impact on the art world. Portrait painting was a significant part of Kahlo’s artistic output. Her self-portraits were often highly personal, with Kahlo depicting herself in a variety of poses and settings, frequently referencing her own life.

Read more about her here

25. Andy Warhol (1928- 1987)

Andy Warhol born on August 6, 1928, and died on February 22, 1987, was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His style of art was so unique, as he used a variety of mediums and techniques to create his images.

He often used silk screening to produce multiple copies of the same image, and he experimented with bold, bright colors and repeating patterns. He also created a series of self-portraits throughout his career, which explored his image and identity.

26. David Hockney (1937)

Photo of David Hockney Photo sourced from Wikimedia

David Hockney born on 9 July 1937 is an English portrait painter, draftsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer. As a portrait painter, he contributed greatly to the pop art movement of the 1960s and he is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century.

Hockney’s portraits also often incorporate elements of his style, such as his use of bright colors and bold, graphic shapes. He is also known for his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, whether it be their physical appearance, personality, or emotions.

27. Alice Neel (1900-1984)

Alice Neel born on January 28th, 1900, and died on October 13th, 1984 was an American visual artist, who was known for her portraits depicting friends, family, lovers, poets, artists, and strangers. Her paintings have an expressionistic use of line and color, psychological acumen, and emotional intensity.

Her work depicts women through a female gaze, illustrating them as being consciously aware of the objectification by men and the demoralizing effects of the male gaze. Her work contradicts and challenges the traditional and objectified nude depictions of women by her male predecessors

28. Gerhard Richter (1932)

Gerhard Richter born on 9 February 1932 is a German visual artist who has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, and also photographs and glass pieces in his career. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary German artists and several of his works have set record prices at auction.

Richter’s portrait paintings are often compared to photographs due to their hyper-realistic style, and he has been known to create his paintings from photographs that he has taken or found. This style distinguishes him from other portrait painters mo so those who came before him.

29.  Kehinde Wiley (1977)

A photo of Kehinde Wiley Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Kehinde Wiley born on February 28, 1977, is an American portrait painter based in New York City, who is known for his highly naturalistic paintings of Black people, frequently referencing the work of Old Master paintings. Wiley’s portrait paintings often feature black and brown subjects in poses reminiscent of classical European portraiture.

He draws inspiration from art historical styles, such as Baroque and Rococo, as well as from popular culture and hip-hop fashion. Wiley’s portraits are often large-scale and highly detailed, with vibrant, bold colors and intricate patterns in the background. He is one of the best portrait painters in the US.

30. Cindy Sherman (1954)

Cynthia Morris Sherman born on January 19, 1954, is an American artist whose work consists primarily of photographic self-portraits, depicting herself in many different contexts and as various imagined characters. She is one of the most famous female artists on our list today.

Like portrait painters, Sherman is interested in creating images of people that reveal something about their character, identity, and social status. However, unlike traditional portrait painting, Sherman’s work does not rely on the skill of the painter or the likeness of the sitter.