Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is a tempera painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Simon Bening. It dates from 1558 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Simon Bening's 1558 tempera-on-parchment self-portrait depicts the artist as a man wearing glasses, positioned before a window.
Simon Bening's 1558 tempera-on-parchment self-portrait depicts the artist as a man wearing glasses, positioned before a window. The work is a direct representation of its creator, identified as the main subject. Created in the mid-sixteenth century, the image captures the artist's likeness within a portrait tradition that emphasizes personal identity and physical appearance.
The inclusion of eyewear and the window setting provides specific detail about the sitter and his environment, anchoring the work's meaning in the documentation of the individual's appearance.
Technique & Style
The self-portrait is executed in tempera on a parchment support, a medium and surface frequently employed in early Netherlandish portraiture. The careful rendering of the artist's glasses, the window opening, and the facial features demonstrates a refined use of line and subtle tonal modeling. The composition is tightly framed, emphasizing the sitter's direct gaze and modest attire, while the limited palette highlights the luminous quality of the tempera medium.
The work measures approximately 8.5 by 5.7 cm and is part of the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The Self-portrait is a tempera-on-parchment painting executed by Simon Bening in 1558. Though no contemporary commission is recorded, the work remained in private hands until it entered the collection of the American banker Robert Lehman, whose bequest brought it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is now housed. Its dating is based on the artist's inscription and stylistic analysis, confirming its mid-sixteenth-century origin.
Overview
This painting, titled Self-portrait, is a tempera work by Simon Bening. It depicts an elderly man, presumably the artist himself, engaged in a moment of quiet reflection. The composition places the figure before a window, suggesting an interior setting.
Bening, recognized for his meticulous and lifelike depictions, presents a detailed portrayal that exemplifies his characteristic approach to painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Simon Bening (c. 1483 – 1561) was a Flemish miniaturist, generally regarded as the last major artist of the Netherlandish tradition. Bening, born either in Ghent or Antwerp, was probably trained by his father,…
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