How do I date an oil portrait?

Examine the sitter's costume, hairstyle, and the preparation of the canvas or panel. Portrait conventions shifted noticeably across the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. Look also for inscriptions on the reverse or stretcher bars which often record the sitter's name and dates.

What is a mezzotint portrait?

A mezzotint is an intaglio print where the artist works from dark to light by roughening the copper plate. This creates velvety dark areas and smooth tonal transitions. Publishers used this method extensively to reproduce famous oil paintings for collectors.

How should I hang antique portraits?

Display portraits away from direct sunlight and damp walls to protect canvas, paper, and giltwood frames. Stable indoor temperatures prevent wood panels from warping. Ensure wall fixings match the substantial weight of period wooden frames.

Are silhouettes considered portraits?

Silhouettes record the profile likeness of a subject using cut paper, ink, or metal. Artists produced these popular profile images throughout the Georgian and Regency periods. Examples often feature painted details on card or gilded highlights behind glass.