portraiture

[ pawr-tri-cher, pohr- ]

/ ˈpɔr trɪ tʃər, ˈpoʊr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR portraiture ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the art or an instance of making portraits.

a pictorial representation; portrait.

a verbal picture.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of portraiture

1325–75; Middle English < Middle French; see portrait, -ure

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for portraiture

This is not the first exhibit to ever take on selfies, nor the first examination of portraiture.
The Art of the Selfie|Erin Cunningham|October 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Steve McCurry: Well, I thought of this more as a portraiture project of models rather than a fashion shoot in a way.
A New Kind of Pirelli Calendar|Misty White Sidell|November 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
This penetrating style of portraiture works on the subtlest of emotional responses as well.
Into the Woods With Virginia Woolf: Emily Perkins and ‘The Forrests’|Lucy Scholes|September 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Daily Pic: Giovanni Cariani caught the labors of portraiture.
Face Time|Blake Gopnik|August 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST

In order to develop characters in his new work, Cotton looked closely at European portraiture.
Will Cotton's New Paintings of Katy Perry|Isabel Wilkinson|January 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He then notes the application to portraiture and to painting by laying colours on the projected images.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1|Various
I am faking it all, because I cannot afford to use models, and what talent I may have is in the line of portraiture.
Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 6, July 1905|Various
Studies so conscientious of time, costume and portraiture ennoble the illustrator's calling.
The Pansy Magazine, April 1886|Various
His characters were large, but never quite free from weakness, except in portraiture, where he appeared at his best.
A Text-Book of the History of Painting|John C. Van Dyke
Its sureness and clearness are excellent, and its portraiture clear and pleasing.
The Morning Glory Club|George A. Kyle

British Dictionary definitions for portraiture

portraiture

/ (ˈpɔːtrɪtʃə) /

noun

the practice or art of making portraits

another term for portrait (def. 1)
portraits collectively

a verbal description

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for portraiture

portraiture

mid-14c., from Old French portraiture "portrait, image, portrayal, resemblance" (12c.), from portrait (see portrait).