Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait
ca. 1690 (made)
ca. 1690 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Most artists have attempted to portray themselves, as they cannot resist trying their skills on their own image, especially if they have made a living by portraiture.
Subjects Depicted
This self-portrait of Kneller shows him as he wished to be seen, as a gentleman wearing a fashionable wig. The emphasis on the eyes is a typical result of self-conscious self-portraits, done with the aid of a mirror.
People
Kneller was born in Lübeck, Germany. He studied mathematics and military fortification at Leyden University about 1662, and was then apprenticed in Amsterdam to the painters Ferdinand Bol and Rembrandt. He travelled to Italy, particularly Rome and Venice. He settled in England in 1676, and by 1678 had secured royal patronage. Kneller was appointed in 1688 as Principal Painter to William III and was knighted in 1692. Kneller became a leading fashionable portrait painter. He inherited the leading and fashionable position of Lely as a prolific exponent of the baroque portrait in England. His famous series of 36 by 28 inch half-length portraits (Kit-cat portraits), named after the Kit-cat Club, whose members were the sitters, decisively influenced the course of 18th-century English portraiture. He was also renowned for the series of portraits of ladies at the royal court, the Hampton Court 'Beauties' 1690-1691.
Most artists have attempted to portray themselves, as they cannot resist trying their skills on their own image, especially if they have made a living by portraiture.
Subjects Depicted
This self-portrait of Kneller shows him as he wished to be seen, as a gentleman wearing a fashionable wig. The emphasis on the eyes is a typical result of self-conscious self-portraits, done with the aid of a mirror.
People
Kneller was born in Lübeck, Germany. He studied mathematics and military fortification at Leyden University about 1662, and was then apprenticed in Amsterdam to the painters Ferdinand Bol and Rembrandt. He travelled to Italy, particularly Rome and Venice. He settled in England in 1676, and by 1678 had secured royal patronage. Kneller was appointed in 1688 as Principal Painter to William III and was knighted in 1692. Kneller became a leading fashionable portrait painter. He inherited the leading and fashionable position of Lely as a prolific exponent of the baroque portrait in England. His famous series of 36 by 28 inch half-length portraits (Kit-cat portraits), named after the Kit-cat Club, whose members were the sitters, decisively influenced the course of 18th-century English portraiture. He was also renowned for the series of portraits of ladies at the royal court, the Hampton Court 'Beauties' 1690-1691.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Title | Self-Portrait |
| Materials and techniques | oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Self Portrait of Sir Godfrey Kneller |
| Physical description | Self-portrait |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
British people had long preferred portraits to other forms of art. Sir Godfrey Kneller was the leading portrait painter of his day. He painted himself as he wished to be seen, as a gentleman, wearing a fashionable wig. The emphasis on the eyes is typical of self-portraits, which were done with the aid of a mirror.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce, 1869 Painted in London by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (born in Lübeck, Germany,1646, died in London, 1723) Painted in Britain |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type Most artists have attempted to portray themselves, as they cannot resist trying their skills on their own image, especially if they have made a living by portraiture. Subjects Depicted This self-portrait of Kneller shows him as he wished to be seen, as a gentleman wearing a fashionable wig. The emphasis on the eyes is a typical result of self-conscious self-portraits, done with the aid of a mirror. People Kneller was born in Lübeck, Germany. He studied mathematics and military fortification at Leyden University about 1662, and was then apprenticed in Amsterdam to the painters Ferdinand Bol and Rembrandt. He travelled to Italy, particularly Rome and Venice. He settled in England in 1676, and by 1678 had secured royal patronage. Kneller was appointed in 1688 as Principal Painter to William III and was knighted in 1692. Kneller became a leading fashionable portrait painter. He inherited the leading and fashionable position of Lely as a prolific exponent of the baroque portrait in England. His famous series of 36 by 28 inch half-length portraits (Kit-cat portraits), named after the Kit-cat Club, whose members were the sitters, decisively influenced the course of 18th-century English portraiture. He was also renowned for the series of portraits of ladies at the royal court, the Hampton Court 'Beauties' 1690-1691. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | DYCE.12&:1 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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