Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Christian Seybold. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1764, this self‑portrait by German Baroque artist Christian Seybold is executed on a copper support. The work presents the artist as an older gentleman, his face marked by wrinkles and dark eyes, dressed in a fur‑trimmed coat with a feather tucked behind his ear. The dark background isolates the figure, emphasizing his individualized features within a Rococo aesthetic.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is Seybold himself, depicted with a neutral expression that meets the viewer’s gaze directly. The choice of attire—a luxurious coat and ornamental feather—signals a certain social standing, while the unidealized rendering of age and expression reflects the artist’s interest in portraying genuine character rather than adhering to contemporary ideals of beauty.
Technique & Style
Rendered on copper, the painting benefits from the metal’s smooth surface, allowing fine detail and luminous color. Seybold employs chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with illuminated areas to model the facial features and fabric. The brushwork is precise, capturing the texture of fur and the subtle play of light on skin, hallmarks of his realistic, character‑focused portraiture.
History & Provenance
The portrait is part of a series of more than twenty self‑portraits Seybold produced, often classified as tronies—studies of expressive heads. It entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, where it remains on display, offering insight into the artist’s self‑representation and the broader trends of 18th‑century German portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Seybold (19 March 1695, Neuenhain, Bad Soden - 29 September 1768, Vienna) was a German painter in the Baroque style.
