Learn about the various actions that have been taken to preserve the "Mona Lisa," one of Leonardo's most famous portrait paintings. Explore compositional details, unfinished portions of the painting, and other interesting tidbits about...

In this instructional activity, students will explore self-portraiture by looking at classical portrait paintings, such as Diego Velazquez's La Infanta Margarita or Raphael's Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione. A close look at these...

From the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, this is an image, description and explanation with an accompanying link to other facts about the post-impressionist painting "Self-Portrait" by Vincent Van Gogh.

Dozens of useful photos of various paintings from around the world! A useful reference in an art or history class. Browse through the examples, then click to enlarge.

In this instructional activity, students will explore self-portraiture by looking at classical portrait paintings, such as Diego Velazquez's La Infanta Margarita or Raphael's Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione. A close look at these...

"The Phoenix and The Pelican: Two Portraits of Elizabeth I, c. 1575" describes two remarkable portraits by Nicholas Hilliard. You will learn how the portraits are related and some of the ways the portraits were changed from their...

Historical information on famous painting of George Washington by Pearle, with interactive features to click and learn meaning behind items in the portrait and links to an in-depth history of the painting as well as virtual visit to the...

Exhibition of portraits of American heroes, statesmen, writers, artists, scientists, and historical figures draws on the paintings in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery to consider the story of America. View portraits from...

Using portraits of Elizabeth I found in British museums as source material, learners investigate the art of portraiture by creating a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth that demonstrates knowledge of Tudor times and her reign.

Many components of a portrait of George Washington have been removed. You need to uncover them with the red spyglass. As you find each piece you will learn how it plays an important roll in the value of the painting and why the artist...

In engaging mini-essays, art historians at the National Museums Liverpool dissect the art of the portrait. Through close examination of six paintings, students learn to interpret the sitter's mood and status and to read clues that convey...

Students will examine Vincent van Gogh's self-portraits and letters to better understand the artist's life story and personality. They will paint two Van Gogh-style self-portraits to show two parts of their own personality and write a...

A list of female portraits painted by John Singer Sargent. Includes information such as date of painting and what museum the painting is currently at. Links are provided to websites with large images of the portraits.

This brief biography of Golda Meir is accompanied by an interesting portrait painted by American realist Raphael Soyer. From the National Portrait Gallery.

A short discussion of the influence of her experiences in China on Peal Buck's writings. Included is her portrait painted by Vita Solomon.

This audio file from Wendy Wick Reaves, curator of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses the portrait of James Baldwin drawn by Beauford Delaney.

"Portrait of Sin Sukju" reflected both the honor that Sin Sukju brought to his lineage as a meritorious official in Korea as well as Confucian beliefs about the afterlife. View the portrait and read about the person it commemorated.

An interesting appraisal of Don Bachardy's portrait of Truman Capote. Listen to Carol Wick Reaves, curator of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses how this drawing is done in the accompanying audiofile.

From the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, this is an image, description and explanation with an accompanying link to other facts about the American Impressionist painting "Portrait of the Artist's Mother" by James Abbott McNeill Whistler.

The Silicon Valley Art Museum presents this printable pdf activity "All about Me: Self-Portrait Lesson", which guides students through the creation of their own self-portrait with a little bit of art history mixed in.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides this informative page on American portrait miniature paintings of the eighteenth century.

Students will compare and contrast an academic and an Impressionist portrait through a writing exercise and discussion. Each student will then write a formal commission letter to one of the artists, requesting a portrait. Adaptations for...

This is the official site of the National Portrait Gallery's exhibit entitled "Edith Wharton's World: Portraits of People and Places." It contains some information about Wharton's life and career and reproductions of the paintings in the...

A thorough examination of the life of Theodore Roosevelt and the people and events that influenced him. You'll find photographs of Roosevelt, as well as photos, paintings, and biographies of some influential people in Roosevelt's life.