The depiction of authority figures by Titian & his contemporaries

Portrait painting flourished during the Renaissance. The powerful in particular - be they emperors, kings, dukes, cardinals, bishops or city administrators - were keen to have their portraits painted. An artist had various ways of expressing the special status of the person depicted in a portrait. Posture, clothing and the addition of certain details were tried and tested means of doing this. The people portrayed were often idealised, but sometimes they were depicted as realistically as possible.

It was not only their own portraits that were intended to increase their fame; rulers also had portraits made of dwarves and jesters who were associated with their court, for example. And in the cities, portraits were sometimes made of convicts to humiliate them.

Portraits and power are inextricably linked. Many of the elements recognisable in Renaissance portraits of rulers are still used today.