Crossword Genius

Painter has left it around? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

portrait

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

'left it around?' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'port' (left side of a ship - opposite of starboard).
'it' becomes 'tiar' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'around?' says the letters should be written in reverse (I've seen 'around' mean this).
'tiar' back-to-front is 'rait'.
'port'+'rait'='PORTRAIT'

'has' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for portrait that I've seen before include "Artistic representation (of a person)" , "(Person's) painting" , "Head/shoulders painting" , "Painting of a real person" , "Image of a person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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