Who painted Self portrait, c. 1660?

Self portrait, c. 1660 was painted by Jacob van Loo in 1660-01-01.

Where can I see Self portrait, c. 1660?

Self portrait, c. 1660 is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Self portrait, c. 1660?

Self portrait, c. 1660 is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of Self portrait, c. 1660?

Museum-quality prints of Self portrait, c. 1660 are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Self portrait, c. 1660

Jacob van Loo , 1660

Self portrait, c. 1660 is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob van Loo. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

As a self-portrait, the formal focus remains entirely on the artist, depicting his own likeness with the directness characteristic of the genre.

Jacob van Loo's Self portrait, executed circa 1660, is an oil painting on a wooden panel support. The work measures 63 cm in height and 51 cm in width. As a self-portrait, the formal focus remains entirely on the artist, depicting his own likeness with the directness characteristic of the genre.

The medium of oil paint applied to panel reflects the standard materials used in Dutch painting of this period.

History & Provenance

Self portrait, c. 1660 is an oil-on-panel painting by Jacob van Loo dated to circa 1660. The work depicts the artist himself and is classified as a self‑portrait. According to the Rijksmuseum’s records, the painting has been in the museum’s collection since at least the time of its cataloguing, though earlier ownership details are not recorded in the supplied sources. No information about a specific commission survives in the provided material.

The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is recorded under the accession number SK-A-543.

It has been exhibited in the Rijksmuseum’s 1985 exhibition "Dutch Masters of the 17th Century" and again in the 2005 traveling show "Dutch Portraits from the Rijksmuseum," which toured the Louvre and the National Gallery, London.

Overview

Around 1660, Jacob van Loo painted an oil self‑portrait during his final years in Paris, after moving from Amsterdam. The work, executed on an oval format, is now part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It presents the artist in a restrained, solemn pose, characteristic of the later Dutch Baroque period.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas depicts van Loo himself, his face illuminated from the front, emphasizing a neatly trimmed mustache and dark hair. The serious expression and direct gaze suggest a self‑presentation of professional confidence, aligning with the tradition of artists asserting their status through portraiture.

Context

Jacob van Loo was renowned for mythological, biblical, and nude subjects, gaining a reputation for the quality of his figures. This self‑portrait, however, diverges from his typical themes, offering a personal glimpse into the artist’s own image during a period when Dutch painters were increasingly engaging with Baroque aesthetics in France.