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

But alongside the custom pet portraiture and six foot plush giant squids are listings for something the platform has banned for nearly a decade: magical spells. —Cyrus Farivar, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024

Still, the whitewashing of Reagan’s red-baiting remains the movie’s defining sin, and a testament to how any sense of portraiture is swamped by the petty desire to win a one-sided debate. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2024

That was really new for photography: Building sets was really new, the conceptual work in fashion and portraiture was new. —Cat Woods, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024

Portraits play a significant role in this show, and there’s something curious about Cassatt’s portraiture. —Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 25 July 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