Meet the subjects of history’s most famous portraits

Some of the world’s most famous paintings are more than just masterpieces, they are windows into real lives. Behind every portrait is a person with a story, identity or mystery that has fascinated art lovers for centuries. Here are six people captured in iconic portraits you should know about. (unsplash)

Lisa Gherardini: Believed to be the woman behind Mona Lisa, Lisa Gherardini was a Florentine woman. Her subtle smile and enigmatic expression have made her one of the most recognisable faces in art history. (wikimedia commons)

Adele Bloch-Bauer: Immortalised in Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, she was a prominent figure in Viennese society. The painting’s gold-leaf style made it one of the most luxurious portraits ever created. (wikimedia commons)

Diego Velázquez: In Las Meninas, the central figure is Infanta Margarita Teresa, surrounded by attendants. Velázquez even included himself in the painting, blurring the line between artist and subject. (wikimedia commons)

Giovanni Arnolfini and Giovanna Cenami: The couple in The Arnolfini Portrait are thought to be a wealthy merchant and his wife. The painting is filled with symbolic details about marriage, wealth and domestic life. (wikimedia commons)

Madame Moitessier: Madame Moitessier, painted by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, represents wealth and elegance in 19th-century France. The detailed textures and mirror reflection add layers of symbolism and sophistication. (wikimedia commons)

Rembrandt van Rijn: Rembrandt painted dozens of self-portraits throughout his life, offering a rare, honest look at his aging process, emotions and artistic evolution. (wikimedia commons)