The Centre For Portrait Painting Recognised As London

London has long been an internationally recognised centre for portrait painting.

This country’s special place in portraiture probably dates back to the reformation. There was a sudden decline in commissioned religious art meaning that artists had to diversify into different genres, portraiture being one of them. The history of portraiture is very interesting and this style of art still widely popular among contemporary art galleries.

Not only has portraiture been a strong tradition among British Artists, but also the favourable climate for portraiture in the UK has drawn portraitists over from abroad.

Holbein was one of the first, who came over in 1526. The trend has continued over time with portrait artists such as Franz Xaver Winterhalter and Philip de Lazlo making substantial parts of their careers in London.

The more eminent portrait painters tended to base their studios in London.

For example Philip de Lazlo had a studio in the Albany, Sir William Orpen in South Kensington,  and Archibald John Stuart Wortley in Westbourne Terrace.

London too, is the base the UK’s pre-eminent organisation for portrait painters; the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

Their annual exhibition is held at the Mall Galleries, by Trafalgar Square and is a must-see benchmark not only for artists but also for those wishing to commission portraits.  They show about 200 recent portraits by their eminent members and by emerging portrait painters to form a snapshot of portraiture today.

This is also a useful site if you are looking to source a portrait painter in London for yourself.  They offer a commissions consultancy service to help anybody who might be considering commissioning a portrait.

Is London the place for you and your passion for portraiture?