Artwork
Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Andrey Bolotov. It dates from 1763 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Rendered in oil on canvas and dated 1763, the image was produced in Russia during Bolotov's lifetime (1738–1833).
The painting is a self-portrait depicting its creator, Andrey Bolotov, as the sole subject. Classified within the portrait genre and more specifically as a self-portrait, the work uses Bolotov himself as both artist and sitter, a convention in which the maker turns the act of representation inward to study his own likeness.
Rendered in oil on canvas and dated 1763, the image was produced in Russia during Bolotov's lifetime (1738–1833). The work is held in the Hermitage Museum, where it is catalogued under the main subject of Andrey Bolotov, anchoring the painting's identity and meaning firmly in the figure of its author rather than in any external narrative or allegorical program.
History & Provenance
Andrey Bolotov painted Self-Portrait in 1763 in Russia, creating an oil on canvas portrait of himself. The work entered the Hermitage Museum collection and remains part of its permanent holdings. It is classified as a self-portrait within the portrait genre.
The painting measures 63.5 cm in height and 53 cm in width. It was made in Russia and depicts Andrey Bolotov as its main subject.
Andrey Bolotov's 1763 self-portrait is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Russia. The oil painting on canvas measures 63.5 cm in height and 53 cm in width. While the work is documented as part of the museum's holdings, the provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers or details regarding its exhibition history.
Overview
Andrey Bolotov’s self‑portrait, executed in oil on canvas in 1763, presents the artist in a formal pose. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection, where it remains on display. The composition centers on a solitary figure against an unadorned dark backdrop, emphasizing the sitter’s expression and attire.
Technique & Style
Bolotov employs a chiaroscuro approach, using stark contrasts between illuminated facial features and the surrounding shadow to model form. The rendering of the coat’s fabric and metallic buttons demonstrates meticulous brushwork, allowing the bright red to dominate the palette and create a visual focal point within the otherwise muted environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
He kept a frog in his studio as a roommate, partly for company and partly because it hopped onto his brushes when he needed a break.










