Who painted Self portrait?

Self portrait was painted by Nicolas Bernard Lépicié.

Where can I see Self portrait?

Self portrait is held by Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.

What movement is Self portrait?

Self portrait is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Self portrait

Nicolas Bernard Lépicié

Self portrait is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Nicolas Bernard Lépicié. It is held in the collection of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1789, this oil painting presents the artist Nicolas Bernard Lépicié looking directly at the viewer. Rendered on canvas, the work captures the painter at a moment of quiet self‑examination, his gaze steady and his posture relaxed. The composition is framed within an oval border, emphasizing the intimate scale of the portrait.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is Lépicié himself, dressed in a red velvet coat trimmed with gold buttons and a white shirt edged with lace. A pencil rests in his right hand, suggesting his identity as a draftsman. The calm expression and subdued lighting convey a reflective mood, inviting viewers to consider the artist’s inner world and professional dedication.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the portrait displays the soft modeling and delicate color palette typical of late Rococo painting. The artist employs a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing the dark background to recede while the illuminated figure emerges with fine brushwork that renders the texture of velvet and the sheen of the wig. The overall effect balances elegance with restraint.

History & Provenance

Nicolas Bernard Lépicié, a French painter and teacher contemporary with Chardin and Greuze, produced this self‑portrait toward the end of his career. The painting entered the collection of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, where it remains on display, providing insight into the artist’s self‑representation during the turbulent years preceding the French Revolution.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nicolas Bernard Lépicié

Nicolas Bernard Lépicié (16 June 1735 – 15 September 1784) was a French painter and teacher of painting, the son of two well-known engravers at the time, François-Bernard Lépicié and Renée-Élisabeth Marlié.