Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Domenico Beccafumi. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
It entered the museum in 1682, by which time extra borders had been added on all four sides, probably to fit a frame or to pair it with another piece.
Self‑portrait is an oil painting made by the Italian artist Domenico Beccafumi around 1525. He painted it on card that was later glued to canvas. The work is part of the Uffizi’s collection of the painter’s self‑portraits in Florence. It entered the museum in 1682, by which time extra borders had been added on all four sides, probably to fit a frame or to pair it with another piece. If you’re curious about where you can see it, check out the Uffizi Gallery.
Overview
Domenico Beccafumi’s self‑portrait dates from the mid‑1520s, roughly between 1525 and 1530. Executed in oil, the image presents the artist in a straightforward, introspective pose. It now belongs to the Uffizi Gallery’s dedicated series of Beccafumi self‑portraits, where it is displayed among other works by the Sienese painter.
Material and Technique
The painting was originally executed on a sheet of card, which was subsequently adhered to a canvas backing. This combination of supports was not uncommon in the period and allowed the relatively fragile card surface to be reinforced for display and conservation. The oil medium reveals Beccafumi’s characteristic handling of light and texture.
Provenance
The work entered the Uffizi collection in 1682. By that time the original panel had been enlarged on all four edges, a modification likely intended to accommodate a larger frame or to serve as a pendant to a companion piece. The alteration reflects curatorial practices of the late seventeenth century.
Context
Beccafumi’s self‑portrait belongs to a broader tradition of artists asserting their identity through portraiture during the Renaissance. While the composition is modest, it provides insight into the painter’s self‑presentation and the evolving status of the artist as an individual creator within the cultural milieu of early sixteenth‑century Italy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Domenico di Pace Beccafumi (1486 – May 18, 1551) was an Italian Renaissance-Mannerist painter active predominantly in Siena. He is considered one of the last undiluted representatives of the Sienese school of painting.
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