Self-Portrait

The Self-Portrait, dating from 1780-1799, is a significant drawing executed after the celebrated work by Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian Italian, c. 1488-1576. This piece, created during the late eighteenth century, exemplifies the widespread practice of artists studying and reproducing the compositions of Old Masters to refine their skills and honor historical achievements.

This sophisticated drawing is rendered primarily in black chalk, with the artist utilizing stumping techniques to achieve soft transitions and deep tonal variations. This meticulous approach to blending creates a subtle chiaroscuro that effectively translates the profound sense of character and gravity inherent in the original Renaissance portrait by Titian. The composition is executed on gray wove paper, a specific choice that allows the white highlights and black chalk shadows to interact dynamically, before being tipped onto a secondary ivory laid paper support for preservation.

Created nearly two centuries after the death of Vecellio, this work attests to the enduring influence of the Venetian school across Europe. The continuous reverence for Titian’s masterful draftsmanship meant that copying his works was a crucial element of artistic education in Italy and abroad during the Enlightenment period. This specific drawing serves as an important document illustrating this pedagogical tradition and the continuing prestige of Renaissance iconography. High-quality prints and digital reproductions of related works are frequently made available through the public domain collections of major institutions. This masterful study remains part of the respected permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.