Self-portrait at the Easel
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Self-Portrait on an Easel is a 1603–1604 oil on panel painting by the Italian artist Annibale Carracci, now displayed in Room 231 of the New Hermitage Building of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg (inv. GE-148). The portrait from the work was repeated for an autograph self-portrait now in the Uffizi, whilst a 1595 version of the Hermitage work is also in the Uffizi.
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It shows a self-portrait of the artist resting on an easel, with a palette hanging from the easel, a dog and a cat behind the easel's legs and a woman's silhouette in front of a window at the top left hand corner. An initial underdrawing for the work is visible to the naked eye, showing that the original intention was for the portrait to occupy the whole panel. A sketch for the work (ca. 1603–1605, Royal Collection, Windsor Castle) shows that option for the work as well as that used in the final version, though the painting made several amendments to the background planned in the second half of the drawing.
The Hermitage Museum's 1958 catalogue dated the work to the 1590s, whilst Denis Mahon argued for around 1595 and others for around 1604. During its loan to Italy in 2006 the Hermitage and Uffizi experts carried out a joint study, comparing the work to the Uffizi self-portrait and arriving at a conclusive date of 1603–1604 (the same as the Windsor drawing).
The work's early history is unclear, though it was inventoried as being in the Crozat collection in 1740, with a misattribution to Tintoretto that was corrected by the time of another inventory in 1755. It was acquired by Catherine II of Russia in 1772, placing it in its present home.
Nel frattempo, nella vita di Annibale Carracci
Tutta la vita1595–1609 · Luogo di lavoro
Rome
1602
A trip to Emilia-Romagna, probably for Agostino’s funeral
After 1595 Annibale left Rome only twice; the first time was briefly in 1602, to Emilia-Romagna, probably for the funeral of his brother Agostino.
1602
The commission for the Herrera Chapel
In 1602 Annibale received the commission to decorate the Herrera Chapel in the Roman church of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli. The surviving parts of the frescoes were later transferred to the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona and some to the Prado Museum in Madrid.
c. 1605
A mental breakdown after a meagre fee
Carracci was a melancholic, and around 1605 he suffered a mental breakdown which, biographers explain, was caused by the unexpectedly low fee of 500 scudi for the frescoes of the Farnese gallery.
March 1605
Serious illness: rheumatism keeps him from painting
In March 1605 Annibale fell seriously ill and apparently never recovered enough to resume work. From 1605 severe rheumatic pains deprived him of the ability to paint.
1606
Leaves the Palazzo Farnese
In 1606 Annibale left the Palazzo Farnese and lived in the Roman parish of San Lorenzo in Lucina.
