How do I identify the period of a portrait?

Dating relies primarily on the sitter's costume, hairstyle, collar fashion and framing style. Comparing these elements with documented examples from specific decades helps establish a reliable timeline. Signatures, artist attribution labels, or inscriptions on the reverse of the canvas or stretcher provide additional historical confirmation.

Are all portraits painted from life?

Many formal works required multiple sittings in an artist's studio, though artists also produced informal studies, sketches and posthumous portraits from existing likenesses or photographs. Sketches and watercolours often capture a more immediate, candid quality than grand commissioned oil paintings.

How should I hang and light antique portraits?

These works require stable indoor environments away from direct sunlight and excessive humidity to protect pigments, paper supports and wooden frames. Directional picture lights or balanced ambient room lighting accentuate the brushwork and tonal depth without causing thermal damage to the paint surface.

What is the difference between an oil painting and a pastel portrait?

Oil paintings utilise fluid paint on canvas or panel, offering robust durability and deep colour saturation. Pastels consist of dry pigment sticks applied to paper, creating a matte surface that requires glass protection. Both mediums offer distinct visual textures that reflect the preferences of different eras and individual artists.