Benjamin West, Self-Portrait
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Capitol · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Open Access (CC0)View original →
Benjamin West

Self-Portrait

1819

Current Collection

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Washington, D.C., United States

Medium
oil on paperboard
Dimensions
82.2 × 65 cm
Status
In Museum Collection
Collect24 Art ID
C24-127966

Six months before he died, West looked unflinchingly into the mirror to paint his self-portrait. He holds a drawing pencil and wears a painter's robe and beaver hat, which identify him as a founder and president of the Royal Academy of Art. The light is strongest on his face and hands, but the rest of the picture falls into shadow, as if he foresaw his own end. West was official painter to the Ki…

Provenance

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Capitol

Registry history

  • 1819 — Recorded in the collection of Smithsonian American Art Museum

Registered on Collect24

The identity of the collector is never published. Purchase information, documents and the exact location of the artwork remain private.

Ownership not yet verified on Collect24

This artwork is documented in the Global Art Registry, but no Collect24 account is linked to it as the owner. Claiming keeps this record and its Collect24 Art ID — nothing is created a second time.

Do you own or represent this artwork? Claim this artwork →

Auction history

Public sale records matched to this work. Ownership is never disclosed.

Loading sale records…