18th-century portraiture

18th-century portraiture refers to the art of painting individuals, predominantly in Europe, during the 1700s. Artists like Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough captured not just physical likenesses but also social status and personality. Portraits often included elaborate clothing and backgrounds that reflected wealth and refinement. This period emphasized naturalism, with subjects posed to convey their character or achievements. Portraits served as a means of preserving one’s legacy and asserting social identity, often commissioned by the aristocracy or wealthier classes, making them significant cultural artifacts of the time.