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.

Another vote for creepy.

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?

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

Kinda creepy if you ask me.

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.

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.

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.