Who painted Self-Portrait?

Self-Portrait was painted by Anton Raphael Mengs in 1776-01-01.

Where can I see Self-Portrait?

Self-Portrait is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Self-Portrait?

Self-Portrait is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Self-Portrait?

Museum-quality prints of Self-Portrait are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Self-Portrait

Anton Raphael Mengs

Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Anton Raphael Mengs. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Painted in 1776, this oil-on-canvas work is a self-portrait by Anton Raphael Mengs, depicting the artist himself.

Painted in 1776, this oil-on-canvas work is a self-portrait by Anton Raphael Mengs, depicting the artist himself. Classified as both a portrait and a self-portrait, the painting represents Mengs in the act of presenting his own likeness, a common convention among eighteenth-century artists who used self-portraiture to assert professional identity and artistic skill. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed in Gallery 619 alongside other eighteenth-century Italian portraits, situating Mengs within the broader tradition of artist self-representation of his era.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1776, Anton Raphael Mengs's Self-Portrait is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 90 cm in height and 65.5 cm in width. As a portrait genre piece, it depicts the artist himself.

The application of oil paint on a woven canvas support aligns with standard eighteenth-century European practices for formal portraiture. While specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, surface condition, or distinct stylistic handling are not explicitly detailed in the available records, the material composition establishes the work as a traditional easel painting. The piece is currently housed in Gallery 619 of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, situated within the collection focusing on Goya and eighteenth-century Italy.

History & Provenance

The work titled Self-Portrait was executed by Anton Raphael Mengs in 1776 using oil on canvas, a format noted in the documented creation records. It portrays the artist himself, classifying it as a self‑portrait within the portrait genre. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed under the museum’s catalogue and is presently exhibited in Gallery 619, Goya and Eighteenth‑Century Italy.

Its physical measurements are recorded as 90 cm in height by 65.5 cm in width, confirming its scale within the museum’s holdings.

Overview

Anton Raphael Mengs's Self-Portrait, an oil painting from 1788, presents the artist's own image. This work, created late in his career, offers a direct visual record of Mengs's appearance and artistic presence. It is currently housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as an important example of 18th-century portraiture.