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

The show underlines the importance of portraiture to these artists who bucked trends by staying committed to the human form. —Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 30 May 2025

Ignoring the conventions of academic portraiture, a genre associated with pale men standing in front of burgundy drapes, Sherald liberated America’s first lady from the fusty, cigar-brown rooms of the past. —Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 15 May 2025

This is the first major exhibition of Hollywood studio portraiture to be showcased from the Museum Department of Film’s film stills archive since 1993. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 3 May 2025

These pictures can have the feel of both formal portraiture and, because of their accuracy, scientific drawings documenting local animal species. —Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025

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