Before photography made it a simple matter to capture a person's momentary likeness, painters strove to convey an individual's unique character in a way that would endure through the ages. Costume, gesture, and accessories signify family lineage and societal roles, while facial expression and gaze give as much of a sense of personality and inner life as the sitter was willing to reveal.
In this gallery you will meet individuals who lived in 16th-century Italy, when prosperous citizens considered themselves worthy of visual commemoration that had previously been reserved for royalty. Portraits may honor an important life eventāa new job, a new marriageāor simply serve as a visual reminder of a faraway son whose family misses him. These portraits were displayed in affluent homes with works of art and beautifully wrought objects that expressed contemporary ideals and brought the classical past to life. Some of those objects are on view hereāand crossing through the doorway to your right can transport you into a time and setting where these figures might easily have lived.