Circle of Johann (Jan) Kupetzki, Czech 1666/1667-1740- Portrait of an artist, half-length, wearing a fur hat and holding a drawing; oil on canvas, in a painted oval, 83.2 x 64.2 cm. Note: The subject of the present work is very likely a portrait of...

Circle of Johann (Jan) Kupetzki,

Czech 1666/1667-1740-

Portrait of an artist, half-length, wearing a fur hat and holding a drawing;

oil on canvas, in a painted oval, 83.2 x 64.2 cm.

Note: The subject of the present work is very likely a portrait of an artist or a self-portrait. The sitter’s pose is a form of ‘Geniale Kopfwendung’, a device introduced by Sir Anthony van Dyck to convey the virtuosity of the artist. The subject’s hand, which holds a drawing of a classical female nude, is as brightly illuminated as his face, which serves to bring the observer’s attention to the disciplines of designing and drawing, both understood to be the key elements of an artist’s practice in the 18th century. Indeed, the possibility that this is a self-portrait is further supported by the slightly stiff appearance of the hand, possibly resulting from the artist’s attempt to depict a static hand from his observation of the hand in motion seen in the mirror. The artist’s depiction of red drapery over the sitter’s shoulder was a classicising motif which serves to expand the volume of the body and which was often used by late Baroque painters, whilst the striking contrast of light and shadow, emphasised by the neutral background, recalls the work of earlier masters like Rembrandt van Rijn. The informal dressing style and the distinct lack of wig (the clean-shaven skull is evidence that he would have habitually worn one) was increasingly popular for gentleman’s portraits around this time, especially for those who were interested in the arts. Note, also, the exceptionally animated gaze of the sitter which is directed at the viewer.

We are grateful to Dr Lilian Ruhe for her assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.