Holbein's Influence on Portraiture: Captured Classical Style Portrait of Former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti

3/23/2023 Matt 0 Comments

Renowned portrait photographer Rory Lewis recently had the opportunity to capture a portrait of the Ambassador to India and former Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. Inspired by the Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger, Lewis aimed to create a portrait that captured Garcetti's essence and personality in a timeless manner. Holbein's focus on detail and objectivity served as a guiding principle for Lewis in his approach to portraiture.

Growing up near Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery, which houses several of Holbein's works, Lewis was inspired by the Renaissance artist's ability to capture his sitters' solemn yet intensely powerful expressions. He admired Holbein's commitment to capturing his subjects' true likeness, imperfections and all, in a way that allowed the viewer to reflect on their own understanding and interpretation of the subject.

Lewis aims to imbue his viewers with the same thought-provoking experience as Holbein's works, bringing integrity to his portraits that allows the viewer to see the subject's inner character, personality, and mood.

His work often involves photographing high-profile corporate and political figures, and his use of Holbein's timeless style and authority imbues his portraits with a sense of power and gravitas. Through his portraits, Lewis aims to create a true likeness of the subject at a specific moment in time that captures the essence of who they are as individuals.

About Rory Lewis:

Winner of the Portrait of Britain in 2017, 2018 & 2019. Lewis is a dedicated portrait photographer who has spent over a decade capturing many of the world’s most recognised faces. Sitters have included the likes of William Shatner, David Cameron, Sir Derek Jacobi, Iain Glen and Natalie Dormer. Rory’s images have been exhibited on both sides of the Atlantic, and several of his iconic portraits have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London. His recent project, ‘Soldiery’, which documented the British Army of the 21st Century, was completed over a two year period and has been hailed as a national success story, named by the BBC as ‘The changing face of the British Army’. Rory divides his time between London and Los Angeles, working with a wide variety of clients. Let's Get Connected: www.rorylewis.studio | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |

Image and video via Rory Lewis | Online Photography Workshop rorylewis.studio/online