Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
John Everett Millais created this oil self‑portrait in 1891, near the end of his long career. The canvas shows the artist seated, dressed in a brown jacket over a white shirt with a black tie, his hair thinning on top and curled at the sides, and a short beard framing his face. The work is part of the Uffizi Gallery’s collection in Florence.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents Millais as both creator and subject, holding a palette in his left hand that reveals a few brushes. By positioning himself directly before the viewer, he emphasizes the personal nature of artistic labor and the identity of the painter as a craftsman, a theme common among late‑career self‑portraits.
Technique & Style
Millais employs a restrained palette of browns and muted tones, allowing the dark background to recede and the illuminated face to dominate the composition. Subtle chiaroscuro modelling gives the figure a three‑dimensional presence, while the careful rendering of the jacket’s texture reflects his continued commitment to the detailed realism associated with the Pre‑Raphaelites.
History & Provenance
Having entered the Royal Academy Schools at eleven, Millais rose to prominence as a leading figure of the Pre‑Raphaelite Brotherhood. This self‑portrait, painted when he was in his sixties, was later acquired by the Uffizi Gallery, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of European portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet ( MIL-ay; 8 June 1829 – 13 August 1896) was an English painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
