portraiture

noun

por·​trai·​ture ˈpȯr-trə-ˌchu̇r 

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r

1

: the making of portraits : portrayal

2

: portrait

Synonyms

• definition
• delineation
• depiction
• description
• picture
• portrait
• portrayal
• rendering
• sketch
• vignette

Examples of portraiture in a Sentence

The museum is exhibiting portraiture from the late 19th century.

Recent Examples on the Web

Focusing on tongues started out as a way to push myself past traditional portraiture. —Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 20 Nov. 2024

Private portraiture has become a partial substitute. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 3 Oct. 2024

Heidi has since produced numerous series that mimic the works of old masters and artistic icons, as well as portraiture. —Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

This is her first dramatic feature, and no doubt her previous background as a documentarian helped account for such searching portraiture. —Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English purtreiture, portratowre, portrature "representation by painting or drawing, the art of painting or drawing," borrowed from Anglo-French purtraiture (also continental Old French pourtraiture), from purtrait, past participle of purtraire "to represent, depict" + -ure -ure — more at portray

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1