Self Portrait

The figure is the painter himself, identifiable by his curly brown hair and period attire—a brown coat with a black lapel and red lining. He holds a book in his left hand and a pen in his right, suggesting a contemplation of his craft and intellectual pursuits, while the adjacent bust alludes to classical ideals.

Created in a modest oil format, the portrait reflects De Latour’s background as a miniaturist, evident in the careful rendering of textures and fine detail. The palette is restrained, emphasizing the contrast between the warm browns of the coat and the cooler tones of the surrounding space.

Born in Brussels in 1780, De Latour worked mainly as a miniaturist, occasionally producing small oil paintings such as this one. He died in Brussels in 1858. The painting entered the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s holdings, where it remains on display.

The portrait situates the artist within the late‑18th to early‑19th‑century aesthetic, combining contemporary dress with a reference to antiquity through the bronze bust. This juxtaposition reflects the period’s fascination with classical heritage alongside emerging modern self‑representation.