This teacher's guide gives practical suggestions for engaging intermediate level students in a study of portraits, based on the assumption that through the image both the sitter and artist reveal something about themselves and the intended purpose of the portrait. Organized in four chapters, Chapter 1, "Talking to the Wall," looks at the messages represented by the portrait's costume, facial expression, bodily pose or gesture, background and accessories, inscriptions, colors, size, medium and frame. Figurative portraits in which the natural realistic human likeness of a single sitter is predominant are dealt with first, then caricatures and abstracts, and finally group portraits. Chapter 2, "Do You Trust the Message?," deals with the influence of deliberate flattery or artistic style, and examines ways in which portraits can be biased. Chapter 3, "Gathering More Clues," looks at visual information provided by props, background details, and techniques. Chapter 4, "Portraits and the Curriculum," suggests cross-curricular applications and activities. The guide concludes with suggested resources and a bibliography. (MM)