Self-portraits in chronological order
by REMBRANDT

It is particularly interesting if the various stages of the creative renewal of an artist can be followed on self-portraits so that the change in style and the change in maturity can be studied simultaneously. From this point of view Rembrandt's self-portraits are without parallel. They are the inexhaustibly rich documents of a human and artistic self-examination lasting a lifetime. In the art of the self-portrait Rembrandt exerted the greatest influence on those painters who rejected the solemn pomp of the Baroque and endeavoured to tell the truth simply and without external trappings.

It is impossible to say how many self-portraits Rembrandt made, for any estimate depends on the definition of what does and what does not belong to his oeuvre. All in all, with the drawings and prints included, Rembrandt must have recorded his own likeness at least 85 times.

The self-portraits served various purposes. Some of them show him playing a role (a hunter, the Prodigal Son, Apostle Paul, etc.). On several occasions he posed as an artist, or as a painter in his studio.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
The Artist in his Studio
c. 1626
Oil on canvas, 25 x 32 cm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

1031*805
True Color
79 Kb



The Artist in his Studio (detail)
c. 1626
Oil on canvas
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

744*1000
True Color
97 Kb



Self-Portrait
1628
Oil on wood, 23 x 19 cm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

745*900
True Color
75 Kb



Self-Portrait
1629
Oil on panel, 16 x 13 cm
Alte Pinakothek, Munich

800*966
True Color
110 Kb



Self-Portrait
c. 1629
Oil on wood, 44 x 34 cm
Museum of Art, Indianapolis

931*1200
True Color
54 Kb



Self-Portrait with Lace Collar
c. 1629
Oil on canvas, 38 x 29 cm
Mauritshuis, The Hague

800*1035
True Color
68 Kb



Self-Portrait with Gorget
1629
Oil on panel, 38 x 31 cm
Staatliche Museen, Kassel

974*1200
True Color
88 Kb



Self-Portrait
c. 1630
Oil on panel, 70 x 57 cm
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

1000*1251
True Color
116 Kb



Self-Portrait in Oriental Costume with Poodle
1631-33
Oil on panel, 67 x 52 cm
Musée du Petit Palais, Paris

1149*1500
True Color
147 Kb



Self-Portrait Wearing a Ruff and a Black Hat
1632
Oil on oak panel, 22 x 16 cm
Private collection

800*1080
True Color
110 Kb



Self-Portrait Wearing a Toque and a Gold Chain
1633
Oil on wood, 70 x 53 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

900*1169
True Color
80 Kb



Self-Portrait
1634
Oil on panel, 71 x 55 cm
Private collection

931*1200
True Color
95 Kb



Self-Portrait as a Young Man
1634
Oil on wood, 62 x 54 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

900*1066
True Color
72 Kb



Self-Portrait with Velvet Beret and Furred Mantel
1634
Oil on oak, 58 x 48 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

850*1023
True Color
63 Kb



Portrait of Rembrandt with Gorget and Helmet
1634
Oil on panel, 84 x 61 cm
Staatliche Museen, Kassel

1094*1300
True Color
101 Kb



Self-Portrait
1640
Oil on canvas, 102 x 80 cm
National Gallery, London

922*1103
True Color
121 Kb



Self-Portrait
c. 1640
Oil on panel, 72 x 55 cm
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

750*935
True Color
64 Kb



Little Self-Portrait
c. 1657
Oil on wood, 49 x 41 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

730*875
True Color
86 Kb



Self-Portrait
1658
Oil on canvas, 134 x 104 cm
Frick Collection, New York

808*1070
True Color
118 Kb



Self-Portrait
1659
Oil on canvas, 85 x 66 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington

746*950
True Color
121 Kb



Self-Portrait (detail)
1659
Oil on canvas
National Gallery of Art, Washington

643*800
True Color
65 Kb



Self-Portrait
1660
Oil on canvas, 80 x 67 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

1337*1600
True Color
142 Kb



Portrait of the Artist at His Easel
1660
Oil on canvas, 111 x 85 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

1045*1300
True Color
178 Kb



Self-Portrait
1661
Oil on canvas, 114 x 94 cm
Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood House, London

1200*1397
True Color
150 Kb



Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul
1661
Oil on canvas, 91 x 77 cm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

1100*1321
True Color
120 Kb



Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul (detail)
1661
Oil on canvas
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

1035*1400
True Color
144 Kb



Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul (detail)
1661
Oil on canvas
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

916*1200
True Color
103 Kb



Self-Portrait
1668-69
Oil on canvas, 82,5 x 65 cm
Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne

741*947
True Color
71 Kb



Self-Portrait
1669
Oil on canvas, 71 x 54 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

1000*1306
True Color
175 Kb



Self-Portrait
1669
Oil on canvas, 86 x 71 cm
National Gallery, London

831*1020
True Color
82 Kb



Self-Portrait
1669
Oil on canvas, 65 x 60 cm
Mauritshuis, The Hague

1352*1500
True Color
141 Kb




Summary of works by Rembrandt
Paintings
New Testament subjects | until 1639 | 1640s | 1650-60s
Passion of Christ | Old Testament subjects
Mythological subjects | Historical subjects
Portraits | until 1632 | 1633-39 | 1640s | 1650s | 1660s
Group portraits | Self-portraits
Landscapes | Miscellaneous subjects
Paintings in the style of Rembrandt (not by Rembrandt)
Graphics
Etchings | Drawings