John Howard Sanden (1935-2022) was a lecturer on portraiture at the Art Students League of New York for 25 years. He was the author of five books on portrait painting and has been widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost portrait artists. He completed more than 450 portraits of prominent figures in American public, professional and business life. Above are Sanden and his wife, Elizabeth, at the unveiling of John Howard Sanden's official White House portraits of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, unveiled at the White House on May 31, 2012.
6 Hallmarks of Quality in a Portrait
By Cameron Miles
Portions adapted from a talk given by the late John Howard Sanden (1935-2022)
Some believe the greatness of a portrait lies primarily in the likeness of its subject. While likeness is crucial, our team at Portraits, Inc. believes that a great portrait goes far beyond that. A portrait that stands above the rest captures something honest and deeply felt. That greatness is revealed in the quiet confidence in a gaze, the subtle tilt of a head, or a captured expression that reveals true personality. Light, composition, and technique all play their part--but what truly elevates a portrait, according to John Howard Sanden, is realism, simplicity, dignity, vitality, style, and craftmanship. As you read the following excerpt from Sanden, take a moment to truly study the portraits featured, looking closely for these defining elements.
Excerpt from remarks given by John Howard Sanden:
What makes a portrait great? While we may all have different opinions, some paintings do tower over the rest as true masterpieces. They are likely popular and have a strong influence on the work of other artists. Quality portraits transmit the character and human qualities of the subject.
The best portraits have six hallmarks of quality in common:
Realism – This is the first and most fundamental quality of a portrait. It strives to tell the truth and to give us a vivid portrayal of a real person at a specific moment in time.
Michael Nutter, Former Mayor of PhiladelphiaSimplicity – A portrait masterpiece should stand clear and distinct in the mind’s eye, even after we are no longer looking at it.
Michelle Obama, Former First Lady of the United States
By Master Artist Sharon Sprung
Vitality – A portrait should strive to capture the essence, or vitality, of its subject. It achieves this purpose when it becomes the vivid recreation of a real human being.
Private collection
By Master Artist Daniel Gerhartz
4. Dignity – A quality portrait invariably has an air of dignity and reserve. It should never be frivolous. The most memorable portraits capture the heroism and majesty of human nature.
Private collection
Style – This is the signature quality every artist imparts to his work. You can always spot a Rembrandt, a Rubens or a Gainsborough by the hallmark of the artist’s style.
Private collection
6. Craftmanship – The conscientious artist uses the finest obtainable materials in his commissioned work and observes time-tested traditional procedures.
Private collection
By Exclusive Artist Glenda Brown
End of remarks by John Howard Sanden
We hope you enjoyed this exploration of what makes a portrait great. Stay tuned for our next blog that is set to release in May 2026.
That's all for now,
Cameron Miles
This post was originally written by John Howard Sanden in 2013. It has been lightly updated for accuracy by Cameron Miles in 2026. The original work and voice belong to John Howard Sanden. Images have been added by Cameron Miles.
