This Napoleon portrait was painted the same year as his major military defeat.
Portrait paintings are often the only images we have of people who lived before the advent of video and photography. These portraits can serve as a visual reminder of the person in the painting as well as a decorative piece of art. Portraits were often intended to flatter and portray the subject in a positive light, but artists sometimes depicted their subjects more realistically as well. Oil paintings can last for centuries if they are well cared for, which is why so many famous historic portraits still exist today.
Napoleon In His Study by Jacques-Louis David
Napoleon In His Study was painted by the artist, Jacques-Louis David in 1812. The painting depicts Napoleon standing upright in his study in his famous pose with his hand tucked inside the front of his waistcoat. The painting differs from the artist's other paintings of Napoleon because, in this portrait, Napoleon's face appears puffy and pale and instead of standing tall, Napoleon is slightly slumped over. The portrait was painted the same year Napoleon attempted and failed to conquer Russia and the portrait does not appear to portray Napoleon as a strong, conquering hero, according to the book, "Masterpieces of Western Art."
George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) by Gilbert Stuart
George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) is a portrait of George Washington painted in 1796 by Gilbert Stuart. Although it is not officially titled the Athenaeum Portrait, it is often referred to as that because it was owned by the Boston Athenaeum center for 150 years and is now jointly owned by the Smithsonian Institute and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The painting is considered to be one of the most famous paintings of George Washington because it is the image of George Washington that was used on the one dollar bill. The portrait was painted when Washington was 64-years-old but was never fully finished by the artist and the lower half of the canvas remains blank.
Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco del Giocondo by Leonardo Davinci
The Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco del Giocondo is also known as the Mona Lisa and was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1504. The painting is considered one of the most famous paintings in the world, according to the Louvre Museum.. The painting hangs in the Louvre Museum and is a supposed portrait of a woman named Madonna Elisabetta Gherardini. The painting is considered an icon of Renaissance art and is considered a mysterious painting because of the slight and subtle smile on the face of the subject and because of speculation about the woman's true identity.
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh painted many self-portraits in his lifetime but this is one of his most famous because it was painted after Van Gogh had cut off his own ear. The portrait was painted in 1889 during a troubled time in Van Gogh's life. The painting shows Van Gogh from a slight angle and depicts him wearing a bandage wound around his head and his ear. Van Gogh's pale skin, combined with the image of the bandage, gives the viewer the impression that Van Gogh was not well when he painted it, according to New York University.
