Artwork
Self-portrait in a fur coat with gold chain and earring
Self-portrait in a fur coat with gold chain and earring is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Dated to 1655, the painting presents the creator in the guise of a man adorned with specific attributes: a fur coat, a gold chain, and an earring.
The work is a self-portrait depicting the artist Rembrandt as its sole subject. Dated to 1655, the painting presents the creator in the guise of a man adorned with specific attributes: a fur coat, a gold chain, and an earring. These elements of dress function as iconographic markers, transforming a standard likeness into a statement of status or historical persona.
The inclusion of the heavy fur garment alongside the jewelry suggests a deliberate construction of identity, where the artist portrays himself not merely as a painter, but as a figure of wealth and distinction. The composition focuses entirely on this singular male figure, utilizing the opulent accessories to convey a specific social standing or artistic ambition within the context of seventeenth-century portraiture.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on oak panel, measuring 65.8 cm in height and 52.6 cm in width. The handling is characteristic of Rembrandt’s mature technique, employing layered, semi-transparent glazes to model the face and fur while reserving opaque highlights for the chain and earring. The composition emphasizes chiaroscuro, with a concentrated light source casting deep shadows across the sitter’s features and the fur’s textured surface.
The condition appears stable, with no major losses or abrasions reported in the source documentation. The oak support remains intact, and the paint layer shows the typical craquelure associated with aged oil media on rigid supports.
History & Provenance
The painting is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Before entering the museum, it was owned by the dealer Charles Sedelmeyer and later by Robert von Mendelssohn, as recorded in its provenance. The work is catalogued as part of the museum's holdings, with its location confirmed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
No specific exhibition history or accession number is documented in the available sources.
Context
The work titled Self-portrait in a fur coat with gold chain and earring was painted by Rembrandt in 1655 as an oil painting on oak panel, depicting himself wearing a fur coat, gold chain, and earring. It entered the collection of Charles Sedelmeyer before passing to Robert von Mendelssohn and is now housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it forms part of the Charles Sedelmeyer collection. The painting is classified as a self-portrait and is regarded as a mature example of Rembrandt’s late portraiture, reflecting his continued exploration of personal identity and status through costume and symbolism.
Its provenance and display context have made it a frequent reference point in discussions of Rembrandt’s self-image and the development of his public persona.
Overview
In 1655 Rembrandt van Rijn produced an oil painting that presents himself in a luxurious fur coat, a gold chain and a single earring. The work is executed on canvas and now belongs to the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum. It exemplifies the mature period of the artist’s self‑portraiture, when he explored personal identity through elaborate dress and dramatic lighting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
