Questions: With the Reformation, portraiture became more widespread. Before the Reformation, whose portraits did Catholic artists paint?

The answer is saints.

Before the Reformation, Catholic artists primarily painted portraits of saints. This was due to the strong influence of the Catholic Church, which commissioned many artworks for religious purposes. Saints were venerated figures in Catholicism, and their portraits were used to inspire devotion and convey religious stories and virtues.

While royalty were also subjects of portraiture, this was less common compared to religious figures like saints. Portraits of royalty were more prevalent in secular contexts and became more widespread after the Reformation when the focus shifted towards individualism and secular themes.

Portraits of merchants were not common before the Reformation. The rise of the merchant class and their commissioning of portraits became more prominent during and after the Reformation, reflecting the changing social and economic dynamics of the period.