Now and Forever

Now and Forever is an ongoing exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum, and it's one of those shows you can slot in whenever you've got a free afternoon. It centers on portraits of prosperous 16th-century Italians, but it uses them to look at the whole history of the portrait as an art form. Before photography, painters had to work hard to make a sitter's unique character endure. They used costume, gesture, and accessories to signal family lineage and societal role, while expression and gaze were left to reveal personality and inner life. It's a good reminder of what a portrait was meant to do before we could just snap a photo.

In 16th-century Italy, prosperous citizens started to see themselves as worthy of the kind of visual commemoration that had previously been reserved for royalty. These portraits often marked a specific life event—a new job or a marriage—or served as a reminder of a son far away. They hung in affluent homes alongside other art and finely wrought objects that spoke to the ideals of the time and brought the classical past to life, some of which you can see on view here. The museum itself sits a block from Pike Place Market and runs across three sites, including the Seattle Asian Art Museum and Olympic Sculpture Park, so it's easy to pair a visit with a walk through the market.

Admission is $29.99 for adults, $24.99 for seniors 65 and over and military, $19.99 for students and teens 15 to 19, and free for children 14 and under. SAM members get in free, and admission is free for everyone on First Thursdays. The museum is open Wednesday 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday 10 AM to 8 PM, and Friday through Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM, and it's closed Monday and Tuesday. You'll find it at 1300 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.