French Romantic School, 19th Century
Portrait of a man, a selfportrait ?
oil on paper
17.5 x 12 cm oval
Framed under glass : 43 x 34.5 cm
This rather mysterious portrait is perhaps a self-portrait of the artist who painted it. This is suggested by the three-quarter pose and the gaze fixed on the viewer.
What this man seems to be staring at is himself.
Similarly, the model's appearance is reminiscent of the image of the romantic, bohemian, tortured artist. It's also very interesting that he used a range of dark colours to reinforce this idea of melancholy.
It has been suggested that this small oil on paper is close to the art of François Bonvin (1817-1887) and Théodule Ribot...
Category
1860s Romantic Portrait Paintings