Self Portrait
Maker
Gabriel Metsu
(Dutch, 1629 - 1667)
Collections
ClassificationsPAINTINGS
Dateca. 1660
Mediumoil on panel
Dimensions8 1/2 x 7 in. (21.6 x 17.8 cm.)
Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Adele S. Browning Memorial Collection, gift of Mildred Browning Green and Honorable Lucius Peyton Green
Label TextIn this self-portrait, Gabriel Metsu's stance—one arm leaning casually over the back of his chair and his gaze directed out toward the viewer—displays overt self-confidence. His wife (#78.20.21B), on the other hand, appears serene and self-contained. Dutch portrait artists were praised for their ability to communicate a sense of their sitters' personalities. While Metsu's portrait conveys the swagger of the successful artist, that of his wife emphasizes the ideal of feminine reserve.Status
On viewObject number78.20.21A
