Self-portrait
Sir John Everett Millais RA (Southampton 1829- London 1896)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
4 Jun 1878 (signed and dated)
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
305 x 210 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Wightwick Manor, West Midlands
NT 1288937
Caption
From the early 1870s onwards, Millais built up a practice as a society portraitist, painting many of the famous people of the day, including Lillie Langtry, Gladstone, and Disraeli. This self-portrait with its dark tones and broad brushwork, so different to the fine detail and tiny brush strokes of his early Pre-Raphaelite work, reflects the development of his later manner, heavily influenced by the 17th century Old Masters, such as Velazquez and Frans Hals.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Self-portrait by Sir John Everett Millais (Southampton 1829- London 1896), signed with initials and dated "June 4 1878". A head- and-shoulders self-portrait, to right, wearing brown velvet jacket with blue neck tie against a brown background. The picture was sold as 'Portrait of a gentleman' but Lady Mander's identification of it as Millais himself is convincing. From the early 1870s onwards Millais built up a practice as a society portraitist, painting many of the famous people of the day including Lillie Langtry, Gladstone and Disraeli. This self-portrait with its dark tones and broad brushwork, so different to the fine detail and tiny brush strokes of his early Pre-Raphaelite work, reflects the development of his later manner heavily influenced by the 17th century Old Masters such as Velazquez and Frans Hals.
Provenance
Anon sale, Sotheby's, June 1966, lot 45, bought by Lady Mander; transferred to the National Trust by Rosalie Glynn Grylls, Lady Mander (1905 - 1988) in 1966
Marks and inscriptions
June 4 73 (signed with initials and dated bottom left)
Makers and roles
Sir John Everett Millais RA (Southampton 1829- London 1896), artist