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Self-portrait of Joseph Werner
Werner, Joseph, born 1637 - died 1710 - Enlarge image
Self-portrait of Joseph Werner
- Object:
Portrait miniature
- Place of origin:
Bern, Switzerland (probably, painted)
- Date:
1662 (painted)
- Artist/Maker:
Werner, Joseph, born 1637 - died 1710 (artist)
- Materials and Techniques:
Watercolour on vellum
- Credit Line:
Purchased with funds from the Stephenson Bequest
- Museum number:
P.168-1931
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Miniature painting originally referred to the art of painting in watercolour on vellum (fine animal skin). It developed in the early 16th century out of the tradition of illuminating manuscripts (hand-written books). In England, miniature was predominantly a portrait art. It was practised by specialist miniature painters, such as Nicholas Hilliard (1547–1619). On the Continent, miniature painting as a portrait art had a few great practitioners, such as the French painter Jean Clouet (1516?–1572). But not even Clouet was a specialist. He worked both in miniature and in large in oil.
This unusual and confident self-portrait is by Joseph Werner, who was born in the Swiss city of Berne in 1637. He was a pupil of Merian in Frankfurt and of Berrettini and others in Rome. Although he specialised in the medium of miniature, he painted mythological and allegorical subjects as well as portraits. These were finely executed. He worked at the French court from about 1666–7, and then for a time in Augsburg and Vienna. In 1682 he returned to Berne, where he founded an academy of painting. He probably died there in 1710.
This is a marvellous self-portrait in miniature. It succeeds in advertising both the young artist's abilities in portrait painting and his skilled draughtsmanship. The latter formed the basis of his exquisite mythological and allegorical works.
