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It would have been good to be a portrait artist back then – it was an extremely honorable field. As a matter of fact, most rich kings, barons, and lords would employ at least one oil painting artist in a court for royal functions. It was a sweet life if you could please your patron, and that wasn't a hard thing for a talented artist to do. You see, although even a king was mortal, a painting was seen as immortal. Paintings of kings from hundreds of years ago, after all, still line the walls of museums all over the world.
Of course, my clientèle nowadays is from a more mixed background. Portrait art is not universally loved anymore. As a matter of fact, some of the most wealthy, refined people I know that never get their portraits painted! After all, it is much easier to get a photograph taken. It requires much less time, costs less money, and guarantees perfect realism in every detail.
Nonetheless, as people get tired of all of the fireworks of modern technology, they turn back more and more to the older arts. I have seen a surge in portrait paintings within the last five years that is unlike anything that has come about in my memory. Almost every portrait artist I have talked to has agreed: our trade is more in demand than it has been in years.
This is good news for any classically trained artists. It is extremely difficult to make a living while dedicating yourself to your art. Many artists sell out and give up on their art, becoming involved in commercial arts in order to make ends meet. By working as a portrait artist, I am able to immerse myself in high art while still making a living.
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