Three-Quarter Portrait
A Special Angle for Painting Portraits
Three-quarter portrait is a depiction of a figure or face not strictly front-facing or in profile, but at an angle of approximately 45°. This angle adds volume, better conveying the character and mood of the sitter. In Western painting, this type of angle was used by masters of the Renaissance and later to convey naturalness of pose and to "bring the character to life."
This approach was especially popular with Titian, Raphael, and Rembrandt. Sometimes clients insisted on this head position, considering it the most elegant and flattering.
Interesting fact: artists often painted self-portraits in a three-quarter turn — it was easier to see oneself in a mirror and less hassle than a full front view!
This angle is still used by photographers and portrait painters today – it is universal, flattering to most faces, and gives a sense of dynamism.