Portraits: A Timeless Conversation Between Artist and Subject

For centuries, portraits have served as one of art history’s most enduring and revealing forms. From Renaissance depictions of power and patronage to intimate modern studies of identity, portraiture has evolved alongside society itself. Early portraits emphasized status, lineage, and symbolism, often idealizing their subjects to reflect wealth or authority. By the 18th and 19th centuries, artists began to balance technical precision with psychological insight, capturing not just likeness but character and inner life.

As modernism emerged, portraiture expanded even further; loosening traditional rules, experimenting with materials, and redefining how artists interpret the human figure. Today, portraits continue to resonate with collectors because they offer something deeply personal: a moment of connection across time. The following highlights showcase this rich lineage, each work reflecting a distinct approach to portraying the human presence while contributing to the broader story of portraiture’s evolution.

Featured Auction Highlights: 

Philip Pearlstein - Portrait of Barbara Schofield (1976)
A mid-century American portrait by Philip Pearlstein presents an intimate study in watercolor. Known for his observational rigor and modernist approach to the figure, Pearlstein’s work here balances immediacy with controlled composition. The sitter, Barbara Schofield, was a former professional tennis player; adding an intriguing layer of contemporary identity to Pearlstein’s uncompromising modern portrait.

Lot 75
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Doyle Auction House
January 14, 2026

Charles Sprague Pearce - Portrait
This work by Charles Sprague Pearce (1842–1914), an American artist educated in the French academic tradition, reflects the refined portraiture of the late 19th century. Pearce’s technique and elegant handling of texture speak to his European training and clientele. 

Lot 14
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Doyle Auction House
January 14, 2026

George Adolophus Storey - Portrait
A piece by George Adolophus Storey, a British artist associated with the Victorian era’s attachment to narrative and characterization in portraiture. Storey’s portraits often reveal psychological depth through subtle expression and poised pose, typical of late 19th-century 

Lot 13
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Doyle Auction House
January 14, 2026

William Sergeant Kendall - Portrait of Meredith Gardner Smith (1911)
This early 20th-century oil by William Sergeant Kendall explores portraiture with a painterly, expressive approach. The work blends academic technique with a softer emotional register, as evidenced in the dignified yet intimate depiction of Meredith Gardner Smith.

Lot 87
Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Doyle Auction House
January 14, 2026

Howard Chandler Christy - Portrait of a Woman in Black
Howard Chandler Christy was celebrated for his elegant style and contributions to both fine and commercial art. This graceful portrait; a gouache and watercolor study; captures his flair for refined detail and sophisticated composition. 

Lot 42
Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000
Doyle Auction House
January 14, 2026

These works offer an engaging journey through how artists from different eras and backgrounds approach the human face and figure. From academic precision to modernist interpretation, each piece tells its own story; and invites collectors to participate in its next chapter.

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