from Paul Graham | by Paul Graham

Amusing pattern I've noticed among great portraitists: they often paint their subjects to look like themselves. Allan Ramsay, who had an underbite, often gives his sitters one.

Peter Lely, who had heavy lidded eyes and not much in the way of cheekbones gives the same look to his sitters.

Van Dyck, who had a pointy nose, did not minimize his sitters'.