Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
In this work he shows himself in half length under an arch, wearing a tall hat and fine gloves, his expression confident and a little arrogant.
Self‑portrait is the second of Albrecht Dürer’s three painted self‑portraits, made in oil on wood panel in 1498. It was created after Dürer’s first trip to Italy, a time when he began to think about his place in society. In this work he shows himself in half length under an arch, wearing a tall hat and fine gloves, his expression confident and a little arrogant. His presence fills the picture, from the hat down to his hand on the ledge. Look next at the museum: Museo del Prado.
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s second painted self‑portrait, executed in oil on a wooden panel in 1498, captures the artist at a pivotal moment following his inaugural journey to Italy. Rendered in a half‑length format beneath an architectural arch, the work presents Dürer turned toward the viewer, his figure dominating the composition from a towering hat to gloved hands resting on a ledge.
Subject & Meaning
In this portrait Dürer asserts a self‑image aligned with the elevated status he believed an accomplished artist deserved. His gaze and slightly haughty expression convey a confidence typical of a young creator at the peak of his technical skill, while the formal pose suggests an awareness of his emerging role within the cultural hierarchy of the late‑15th‑century North.
Technique & Style
The painting employs oil on wood, allowing Dürer to achieve fine gradations of tone and a luminous surface. The detailed rendering of the tall hat, richly textured gloves, and the subtle modeling of facial features demonstrates his mastery of Northern Renaissance realism, combined with compositional influences absorbed during his Italian sojourn.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after Dürer’s first Italian trip, the portrait reflects the artist’s exposure to new artistic ideals. It later entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display, offering insight into Dürer’s self‑perception and the broader evolution of portraiture at the turn of the 16th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
