Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Hendrik van Limborch. It dates from 1708 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Hendrik van Limborch’s self‑portrait, executed in oil in 1708, presents the artist in a formal pose against a dark backdrop.
About this work
Overview
Hendrik van Limborch’s self‑portrait, executed in oil in 1708, presents the artist in a formal pose against a dark backdrop. The work belongs to the portrait genre and reflects the decorative tendencies of the Rococo period. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas shows Limborch himself, a middle‑aged man with long, curly blond hair. He wears a red velvet cloak edged in gold, a white shirt and brown‑sleeved garment, and raises his right hand to his chest while gazing directly at the viewer, suggesting confidence and self‑awareness.
Technique & Style
Limborch renders the face with careful modelling, using subtle gradations of light to achieve a realistic texture. The contrast between the richly coloured cloak and the deep, muted background heightens the three‑dimensionality of the figure, a hallmark of late‑Baroque portraiture transitioning toward Rococo elegance.
History & Provenance
Born in The Hague to a lawyer’s family, Limborch trained with artists such as Jan de Baen and Adriaen van der Werff before establishing his own practice. The self‑portrait remained in private hands until it entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the Dutch Republic’s artistic legacy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrik van Limborch (9 March 1681 – 3 February 1759) was a painter and an engraver from the Dutch Republic.
