Painted portraits of strangers

[Anonymous]

Have you ever seen this? I have been to more formal houses, and I have seen a DR or LR with several, uniformly matched, painted portraits of strangers from the neck up. It seems like an odd decorating choice to me. Sparing me the snark (because I know it is a weird question, but don't know where else to ask), can someone enlighten me? It seems impersonal and maybe a little creepy to me. It is not portraits of relatives, BTW; I have clarified that much.

[Anonymous]

If it's a very wealthy household, perhaps portraits by a famous (or relatively famous, if you know your art) artist. Otherwise, probably just trying to look kind of "old money" and from a rich, established family. That would be my guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's a very wealthy household, perhaps portraits by a famous (or relatively famous, if you know your art) artist. Otherwise, probably just trying to look kind of "old money" and from a rich, established family. That would be my guess.

It is not someone famous. I asked. OP here. I am trying to disprove my first impression, which is trying to hard (I bolded above, obviously). I would like to think something nicer than that.

[Anonymous]

Kinda creepy if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

They were probably investing in the artwork itself. Depending on the date of the work, it can be extremely expensive.

[Anonymous]

News flash. Some people like portraits and some people like art! My tastes run more modern, but this is hardly surprising. You should like a piece of work as a guest to be so judgey. What is on your walls?

[Anonymous]

Another vote for creepy.

[Anonymous]

Well, you wouldn't want my relatives in oil! All of them are pretty ugly, but since they date from the 17th century, I keep them religiously.

Unless it's Monet's wife and daughter (both subjects of his two different "Lady with a Parasol"), I don't want any strangers on my walls, you're right. Although I can also make an exception for Ingres' La Grande Odalisque, whoever she was.