Self-portrait

Blondel presents himself holding a mechanical pencil, a detail that underscores his identity as a working artist. The inclusion of the drawing instrument serves as a subtle reference to his professional practice and the craft of painting itself.

Rendered in oil, the portrait employs a restrained palette of browns, blacks and whites for the figure, set against a blue sky with soft clouds. The handling reflects the Neoclassical emphasis on clear form and controlled brushwork, while the informal pose hints at emerging Romantic sensibilities.

Created shortly after Blondel’s 1803 Prix de Rome victory, the work remained in his possession until it entered the Nationalmuseum. Blondel later earned the Legion d’Honneur and served as a professor at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux‑Arts until his death in 1853.

The portrait aligns with early‑19th‑century French portraiture, where artists often depicted themselves with tools of their trade. Blondel’s attire and the serene expression echo the period’s sartorial conventions and the dignified self‑presentation typical of academic painters.