Artwork
Self portrait of artist in landscape
Self portrait of artist in landscape is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Julius Caesar Ibbetson. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This composition functions as a self-portrait that situates the creator within his natural environment, blending the human subject with the surrounding scenery.
The work depicts Julius Caesar Ibbetson portraying himself as the central figure within a landscape setting. The artist is shown alongside his professional tools, specifically an easel, a canvas, and a palette, which identify him as a painter at work. This composition functions as a self-portrait that situates the creator within his natural environment, blending the human subject with the surrounding scenery.
The inclusion of these specific artistic implements emphasizes the artist's identity and vocation while the landscape backdrop provides the context for his creative practice.
The painting represents the artist's presence in the world, combining a formal portrait of the individual with the genre of landscape painting.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 74.5 cm in height by 62 cm in width. Rendered around 1780, it depicts the artist seated before an easel, palette in hand, within a softly lit landscape setting. The brushwork and composition reflect the formal conventions of late 18th-century portraiture, emphasizing naturalistic rendering and intimate self-representation.
The surface remains intact with no noted alterations or damage, preserving the original handling characteristics of the support.
History & Provenance
Self portrait of artist in landscape is an oil on canvas painting by Julius Caesar Ibbetson created circa 1780. The work is part of the National Library of Wales collection, acquired through the Sir John Williams Bequest in 1926. It measures 74.5 cm in height and 62 cm in width.
The painting is catalogued as PE02854 in the National Library of Wales collection and is classified as a self-portrait genre work.
The painting is held by the National Library of Wales as part of its Framed Works of Art collection. It is catalogued under the accession number PE02854. The work entered the collection through the Sir John Williams Bequest in 1926, though the exact acquisition date is recorded as uncertain.
No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Julius Caesar Ibbetson’s 1790 oil painting, Self portrait of artist in landscape, presents the artist amid an open countryside scene. Dressed in a dark coat and white shirt, he holds a palette while a modest easel stands beside him. The surrounding hills and trees are rendered with a soft, atmospheric quality, creating a clear contrast between figure and environment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Julius Caesar Ibbetson (29 December 1759 – 13 October 1817) was a British 18th-century landscape and watercolour painter.
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