The self-portrait is a representation of the artist. It may be a drawing, painting, photography or sculpture performed by the author. The first self-portraits whose authors cannot be identified appear in the early Renaissance in the middle of the XV century. Go torenaissancepainters.ca for more.
Artists portray as a major thing can find their place as part of events or as part of group portraits. Did you know that the man with the turban of 1433, authored by the Flemish painter Jan van Ike is considered to be the oldest self-portrait of Western easel painting?
Later in the history of art, self-portraits become an important part of the work of many authors. Italian artist Sandro Botticelli, who is known to us for his Birth of Venus and Spring, has painted in the right corner.
One of the most prolific creators of auto-portraits which belong to the German Renaissance is the printmaker Albrecht Dürer. His first work, a self-portrait which he made 13 years ago, is a real masterpiece. In 1493 he painted the self-portrait with barbed flower, a work in the Louvre Museum in Paris who was first a nomadian painter who painted himself, not as a member of a community, but as an individual.
This self-portrait was sent to his fiancée Agnes Fry. At the bottom of the image, you can read the slogan “My life runs to the wishes of the sky.” With this he expressed astonishment, but reconciliation that he expects marriage and to earn a respect from his father.
Flemish painter Rembrandt which we most have known for his Night Guard has a number of self – portraits in his opus. Here we see the self-portrait of 1632 which enjoyed a great success as a fashion portrait and self-portrait from 1640.
One of the virtuosos of the High Renaissance again, primarily a sculptor and painter Michelangelo, did an amazing artwork which covers the wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican (1536- 1541).
Presented like skin that hangs in the hand of saint Bartholomew. From this period,we have indicated the self-portrait of Raphael Santi, made in 1506, located in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Also the self-portrait of Titian, his first self-portrait painted many years ago.The self – portrait of 1567, which is part of the collection of the Prado Museum in Madrid. The self-portrait of El Greco from 1604 is also very interesting. Peter Paul Rubens painted again with his first wife, Isabella, in 1609. Spaniard Diego Velazquez known for his Las Meninas painted a self – portrait from 1645 which is now in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
And finally, you must not forget one of the greatest painters of the Baroque – Spaniard Francisco Goya, which is a precursor of modern art. We see him not only as a major figure in his works but also as part of another portrait composition.
Gaia joined herself in Portrait of the family of Charles IV, made in the period 1800-1801. His self-portrait from 1795-1797 is very interesting because it was created when got deaf and therefore he presented himself with a longer straggly hair.