Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Realist artist George Peter Alexander Healy. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait genre piece, the medium allows for the detailed depiction of the artist himself, who serves as the primary subject.
Executed in 1852, this self-portrait by George Peter Alexander Healy is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures approximately 71.8 by 56.5 centimeters and was created in the United States. As a portrait genre piece, the medium allows for the detailed depiction of the artist himself, who serves as the primary subject.
The combination of oil paint and canvas support was a standard convention for formal portraiture during the mid-nineteenth century, facilitating the rendering of facial features and textures characteristic of Healy's approach. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where its physical dimensions and material composition are documented as part of its catalog record.
History & Provenance
George Peter Alexander Healy's Self-Portrait was created in 1852, executed in oil paint on canvas and produced in the United States. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is identified by the accession number 1915.601, indicating that it had been accessioned by that institution by 1915. No further details regarding an earlier ownership chain, commission, or intermediate provenance prior to the museum's acquisition are documented in the available sources.
The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, inventoried as 1915.601. It was acquired by the museum in 1915. The work has been exhibited at the Cleveland Museum of Art as part of its permanent collection displays since accessioning.
Overview
George Peter Alexander Healy's Self-Portrait, painted in oil in 1852, offers a direct representation of the artist. Healy was a highly regarded American portraitist known for his extensive body of work and his ability to capture the likenesses of many notable figures of his time. This painting serves as a personal record within his prolific career, now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
This painting presents Healy himself, depicted with a serious expression and a slight tilt to his head. He wears a dark coat with a high collar, against an unadorned, dark background that directs full attention to his face. As a self-portrait, it reflects the artist's engagement with the Realism movement, emphasizing an unidealized depiction of the individual.
Context
George Peter Alexander Healy was a prominent American artist active throughout the 19th century. His career was marked by extensive travel and study in Europe, which informed his approach to portraiture. Maintaining studios in both Paris and Chicago, Healy cultivated a reputation for capturing the likenesses of many influential individuals, making him one of the most sought-after portrait painters of his generation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George Peter Alexander Healy (July 15, 1813 – June 24, 1894) was an American portrait painter.
