Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ferdinand Bol. It dates from 1669 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Ferdinand Bol shows himself in oils. He’s dressed in an embroidered robe and leans on a small Cupid statue. The painting dates to 1669, the same year Bol married Anna van Erckel for the second time.
It’s a self-portrait, so you’re looking at the artist’s face and pose. The Cupid detail hints at love and new beginnings.
If you like this, look up the artist Ferdinand Bol.
Overview
Ferdinand Bol’s self‑portrait, executed in oil on canvas around 1669, presents the artist in a richly embroidered robe. He rests his weight against a small marble figure of Cupid, creating a composed yet intimate pose. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam and measures roughly the size of a typical 17th‑century portrait.
Subject & Meaning
In the painting Bol depicts himself alongside the allegorical figure of Cupid, a visual cue that underscores themes of love and renewal. The timing of its creation coincides with his second marriage to Anna van Erckel, suggesting the portrait was intended to commemorate that personal milestone and to signal his affectionate state.
Technique & Style
Bol employs the smooth, luminous brushwork characteristic of Dutch Baroque portraiture, allowing the embroidered fabric to catch light while the flesh tones remain subtly modeled. The chiaroscuro treatment highlights the artist’s face and the delicate details of the Cupid statue, demonstrating his skill in rendering texture and depth within a relatively restrained composition.
History & Provenance
The canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch Golden Age collection, where it remains on display. Documentation links the work to the year 1669, aligning with Bol’s remarriage, and it has been referenced in several catalogues of his oeuvre as a key example of his later self‑portraiture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ferdinand Bol (24 June 1616 - 24 August 1680) was a Dutch painter, etcher and draftsman.
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