Artwork
Portrait of a Painter, probably a Self Portrait

Portrait of a Painter, probably a Self Portrait is an oil painting by Krzysztof Lubieniecki. It dates from 1709 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The artwork functions as a portrait of a painter and is widely considered to be a self-portrait. Its main subject is the artist himself, Krzysztof Lubieniecki, whom the composition explicitly depicts. The genre classification as a self-portrait reinforces the interpretation that the work represents the creator's own likeness, capturing his identity and professional role as a painter.
Technique & Style
The medium and support combination of oil on canvas was standard for portraiture of this period, allowing for the detailed rendering of the sitter's features.
Executed in 1709, this work is an oil painting on canvas. The composition measures 92 cm in height and 72.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece functions as a portrait, with sources identifying the subject as the artist Krzysztof Lubieniecki himself, thereby classifying it as a self-portrait.
The medium and support combination of oil on canvas was standard for portraiture of this period, allowing for the detailed rendering of the sitter's features.
History & Provenance
The painting Portrait of a Painter, probably a Self Portrait was created in 1709 by Krzysztof Lubieniecki, as documented by both internal records and Wikidata. The work measures 92 by 72.5 cm and is executed in oil on canvas.
Its earliest recorded ownership is attributed to Wolter Gockinga, though the circumstances of its acquisition remain undocumented. The painting later entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently housed. No evidence of a commission or prior provenance before Gockinga has been substantiated in the available sources.
The painting is held in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it forms part of the institution’s permanent collection. It is catalogued under inventory number SK-A-1371.
The work has been included in exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum, though specific exhibition titles and dates are not uniformly documented across sources. Its presence in the museum’s collection underscores its recognition as a significant example of early 18th-century portraiture.
Context
Krzysztof Lubieniecki's 1709 oil painting Portrait of a Painter, likely depicting himself, occupies a distinctive position in early 18th-century Polish art. While genre painting was gaining prominence in Northern Europe, the work functions as a self-referential statement within the portrait tradition, reflecting contemporary artistic identity debates. Its classification as a self-portrait by both contemporary records and modern cataloguing systems underscores its role in documenting the artist's professional persona.
The painting's inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection, following its acquisition through Wolter Gockinga's legacy, situates it within institutional efforts to preserve Northern European artistic heritage.
Overview
Portrait of a Painter, probably a Self Portrait is an oil painting created in 1709 by Krzysztof Lubieniecki, a Polish Baroque artist active in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age. The work is now part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Legacy
While specific influences or direct artistic legacies of Portrait of a Painter are not outlined, it contributes to the broader understanding of Baroque self-portraiture and the role of Polish artists in 17th-century Dutch art circles.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Krzysztof Lubieniecki or Christoffel Lubienietzky (1659–1729) was a Polish Baroque painter and engraver active in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age.

















