本文通过对比来自美洲、希腊、罗马、非洲、中国和日本等古代不同文化传统案例，指出不同的社会分层情况与写实性肖像画有着紧密的联系。在等级制度社会，写实性肖像画对于等级具有破坏和颠覆性而因此受到抑制，因而人们常常见到图像志而非写实性肖像。阶层开放的社会似乎更允许写实性描绘，写实肖像画更有可能获得发展甚至达到兴盛。“,”In this paper, through the contrast of ancient different cultural traditional case from America, Greece, Rome, Africa,China and Japan .It was pointed out that different social stratification and realistic portraits were closely linked. In the hierarchical society, realistic portraits destroyed and subverted the grade ,therefore inhibited, so people often see images rather than realistic portraits.Open class society seemed to be more realistic that allows realistic portraits description,which were more likely to get developed even to reach prosperity.