portraiture

noun

por·​trai·​ture ˈpȯr-trə-ˌchu̇r 

-chər, 

-ˌtyu̇r, 

-ˌtu̇r

1

: the making of portraits : portrayal

2

: portrait

Synonyms of portraiture

• portrait
• description
• portrayal
• depiction

Examples of portraiture in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The humble accessory that once adorned fainting couches in early 19th-century portraiture is appearing across modern bedrooms, from Ariel Kaye’s house to Brunch With Babs’s Connecticut home to this Palm Beach Spanish-style retreat. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026

At least in their professionalism, Whitehead’s protagonists have always had an element of self-portraiture. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

Across cultural history, elite sport, climate emergency and intimate observational portraiture, local companies are shaping projects that start from Canarian experience and reach out from there. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 June 2026

But, typical of Hockney portraiture, the resulting drawings magnificently captured every crag in Auden’s impossibly craggy face. — Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026

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