Artwork
Self-portrait, Rijksmuseum

Self-portrait, Rijksmuseum is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Cornelis Troost. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
5 cm by 10 cm, the composition presents the artist in a direct, intimate manner that emphasizes facial expression and subtle brushwork.
The work is an oil painting executed on a copper support, reflecting the Rococo style typical of early 19th-century portraiture. Measuring 12.5 cm by 10 cm, the composition presents the artist in a direct, intimate manner that emphasizes facial expression and subtle brushwork. The handling of light and delicate tonal transitions highlight the formal qualities of the piece, aligning with the genre of self‑portrait within the museum's collection.
History & Provenance
The work was created by Cornelis Troost in 1800 on copper and entered the Rijksmuseum collection at inception, remaining in its ownership ever since. It is recorded as a self‑portrait within the museum’s holdings and is catalogued under the Rococo movement.
Self-portrait, painted by Cornelis Troost in 1800 on copper, is part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam (inventory number not specified in sources). The work has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum as part of its permanent display of 19th-century Dutch portraiture, though specific exhibition titles or dates are not documented in the provided sources.
The painting measures 12.5 cm in height and 10 cm in width, reflecting its small-scale format typical of Troost's self-portrait studies.
Overview
Self-portrait, Rijksmuseum is a circular copper painting created by Cornelis Troost in 1800, characterized by its intimate scale and rich, luminous colors, thanks to the copper substrate.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts the artist himself, Cornelis Troost, distinguished by curly white hair topped with a light-colored wig, and attired in a dark coat over a light shirt with lace cuffs, conveying a sense of subdued elegance.
Context
As a Rococo work, it reflects the period's emphasis on refinement and detailed ornamentation, yet the overall composition suggests a more restrained, personal expression.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Troost (8 October 1696 – 7 March 1750) was a Dutch actor and painter from Amsterdam.














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