Book excerpt: Portraiture was at a crossroads from 1770-1830, a period when the influence of monarchs and aristocrats waned in favor of the new pioneers of democracy. This catalogue traces the evolving presentation of the portrait sitter, with sumptuous full-color reproductions of works by masters presented alongside lesser-known but equally intriguing pieces. An international team of scholars provides valuable information on sitters as well as artists, plus discussions of key works from the Enlightenment and revolutionary period.