Image scanned and/or photographed, then color-corrected by Pat Cagney.

The Artist in His Studio

Artist Nicolas de Largillière (French, 1656-1746)

Dateca. 1686

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall: 58 5/8 x 45 5/8 in. (148.9 x 115.9 cm)
Overall, Frame: 75 x 62 1/2 in. (190.5 x 158.8 cm)

ClassificationsEuropean art

Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

Object number71.513

Terms

Portraits
Self-portrait
Artists
Red
Blue
Orange
Gold
Gray
Yellow
Black
White
Baroque
Paris

Collections

European Art before 1945

On View

On view

DescriptionThis is an oil on canvas painting. It is an early self-portrait of the artist, who sits at the right with his palette and brushes. The scene is in the artist's studio. There are three gentlemen wearing wigs replete with long curls. They are expensively dressed in 17th century French costume and draped with richly colored fabric. The figure on the left of the canvas is standing, gesturing off to his right as he stares out of the canvas, at the viewer. The central figure, Flemish engraver Gerard Edelinck, is seated and looks over his right shoulder at him while pointing at a portrait print he created with his right hand. The figure on the right of the canvas is Nicolas De Largillierre, as indicated by his palette and brushes in his left hand. He is also holding up the aforementioned print with his right hand. The bottom foreground is in shadows, as the light from the windows primarily illuminates the three figures. On the floor there are sculpture pieces, one of a woman's head and another of a man crouched, as well as a rolled up scroll or parchment.

Label TextNicolas de Largillière French, 1656-1746 The Artist in His Studio, ca. 1686 Oil on canvas How many portraits do you see here? There are actually five. The artist sits on the right with his palette and brushes in hand. The engraver Gérard Edelinck (1640–1707) sits next to him, and the two hold up a portrait print that Edelinck made from Largillière’s original painting (displayed at far right). The man standing behind them is Pierre Bernard, who commissioned the engraving. Eager to own images of famous contemporaries, many Frenchmen in Largillière’s day collected prints like this one. As celebrated here, collaborations of portrait painters and engravers could be immensely profitable. Such arrangements also brought art images to a wide audience at affordable prices. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.513