Self-Portrait

This self-portrait shows Peter Paul Rubens in half profile in front of an almost black background. The dark clothing and dark hat he wears make his face stand out brightly. The edge of a white shirt is likewise emphasised visually when set against the darkness. The look on Ruben’s face is one of concentration, with his right eyebrow slightly raised. He wears a beard and moustache that are distinctly twirled, while his neck-length hair is somewhat wavy. Rubens only rarely portrayed himself on his own, preferring family portraits. He painted the first version of this self-portrait as a commission for the Prince of Wales. Rubens wrote about this in a letter: ‘He already owns something from my hand and had the English envoy in Brussels ask me for my portrait with such urgency that I could not possibly refuse, although it seemed inappropriate for me to send my portrait to a prince of this rank. But he prevailed over my modesty.’