Crossword Genius

Left it — involving artist for painting (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

portrait

'painting' is the definition.
(portrait is a kind of painting)

'left it involving artist' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'port' (left side of a ship - opposite of starboard).
'involving' is an insertion indicator.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'port'+'it'='portit'
'portit' going around 'ra' is 'PORTRAIT'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for portrait that I've seen before include "Painting of a real person" , "Person's picture" , "Oil perhaps" , "(Person's) painting" , "Picture of person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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