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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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



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



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