As a vehicle to convey personality, power, status, identity and wealth, portraiture is unmatched. Whether you’re standing in front of Queen Elizabeth I’s Armada Portrait or gazing at fashion royalty on the cover of Tatler, these images have been constructed to make an impact. How do portraits capture the zeitgeist? What do they tell us about an individual? And which portraits have really stood the test of time? This talk will explore the various forces that come together to produce an iconic portrait, and examine how these images both reflect and shape the societies that made them. To view all Sotheby’s Talks, click here.