Years ago, I was one of those people you’d see rushing past the rows of old master portraits in a museum or art gallery on my way to see a more exciting genre such as history painting.  I admired the portrait artists’ skills yet, frankly, I found little joy in viewing important people long-dead and often long-forgotten. Hans Memling’s “Portrait of Tommaso di Folco Portinari,” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, highlights well why I now love old master portraits, and why we should all make friends with them. 
“Portrait of Tommaso di Folco Portinari,” circa 1470, by Hans Memling. Oil on wood; 16 5/8 inches by 12 1/2 inches. Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. (Public Domain)
Full of grace, of course, Portinari holds a gentle gaze in his portrait, pursing his lips a little to concentrate as he holds his hands together in prayer. His dark clothing blends into the background, creating a striking—almost modern—image that brings our attention to Portinari’s piety….