Artwork
Self-Portrait and the Artist's Brother
Self-Portrait and the Artist's Brother is an ink print by the Romanticist artist duc de Montpensier, Antoine Marie Philippe Louis d' Orléans. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: in stone, at lower center: A.P.d'O fecit 1805.; verso: at lower left in graphite in later hand: ROT
- Markings
- Marked:recto: stamped in red at lower left: Albert Maroni (Lugt 150b); verso: none
About this work
Overview
Created in 1805, this lithographic print titled Self-Portrait and the Artist’s Brother presents a side‑by‑side portrait of two men rendered in profile.
Created in 1805, this lithographic print titled Self-Portrait and the Artist’s Brother presents a side‑by‑side portrait of two men rendered in profile. Executed on wove paper, the image displays a muted, yellow‑tinged surface with slightly frayed edges, suggesting age and handling. The work is attributed to Antoine Marie Philippe Louis d’Orléans, duc de Montpensier, a French nobleman and amateur artist.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features the artist and his brother standing together, each turned toward the left. Both figures wear high‑collared coats, one complemented by a scarf, indicating contemporary fashion of the early nineteenth century. The pairing underscores familial connection, while the informal, sketch‑like rendering hints at a personal, perhaps private, documentation rather than a formal commission.
Technique & Style
The image was produced by lithography, a printmaking process that involves drawing directly onto a limestone or metal plate with a greasy medium. The resulting lines are soft and loosely executed, characteristic of early lithographic practice when artists often worked quickly to capture a spontaneous likeness. The wove paper’s slightly yellowed tone enhances the work’s historic ambience.
History & Provenance
The lithograph originates from the period when the duc de Montpensier, a member of the French royal family, pursued artistic interests alongside his political duties. Though details of its ownership trail are limited, the print’s worn edges and paper coloration indicate it has been handled over time, likely remaining within private collections before entering public awareness as a representative example of aristocratic amateur lithography.
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Artist & collection
Artist
duc de Montpensier, Antoine Marie Philippe Louis d' Orléans
Orléans, duc de Montpensier, Antoine Marie Philippe Louis d' (1805–1805) was an artist.
