Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an oil painting by Salvador Mayol. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1800, this oil on canvas self‑portrait presents the artist Salvador Mayol looking directly at the viewer. The work is part of the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, where it is displayed among other 19th‑century European paintings.
Subject & Meaning
Mayol depicts himself in a dark jacket over a white shirt, accented by a yellow scarf that adds a subtle splash of colour. Holding a paintbrush in his right hand, the artist emphasizes his professional identity, while the subdued palette and shadowed backdrop convey a contemplative, almost introspective mood.
Technique & Style
The painting employs the traditional oil medium, allowing for smooth modelling of flesh and fabric. Mayol renders the textures of the jacket and scarf with careful brushwork, while the dark background recedes, highlighting the illuminated figure and the white canvas that appears behind him, creating a modest sense of depth.
History & Provenance
Since its completion at the turn of the 19th century, the portrait has remained in public ownership, eventually entering the holdings of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. The museum acquired the piece as part of its effort to represent Catalan artists of the period, and it has been catalogued in the institution’s permanent collection.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
The Painter Jan Baptist Berré
Portrait of the painter Jan Baptist Berré
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait
Self-portrait
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Nicolas Louis Faret
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Portrait of a Painter
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Nicolas Louis Faret