Portrait du Caravage (Portrait of Caravaggio)

Henri Simon Thomassin

Associated Names
Henri Simon Thomassin

Artist, French, 1687 - 1741

The image shows a man's back and three-quarters upper body view. He is standing and slightly leaning forward, holding a mirror in front of him at chest level reflecting his face. The man's facial features as seen in the mirror include a full beard and a mustache, with his eyes looking upwards. His hair appears short and closely cropped from the back. He wears a loose, tattered robe that reveals signs of wear with frayed edges. Beside him is an object resembling a human skull on a flat surface. The background is a simple dark texture with no discernible details.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on heavy laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Ruth B. Benedict

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 22.8 x 13.5 cm (9 x 5 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1994.60.61

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Le Blanc, no. 5

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Dr. Ruth B. Benedict (1913-1993), Washington; bequest to NGA, 1994.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1854

  • Le Blanc, Charles. _Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations, dans lequel sont decrites les estampes rares, precieuses et interessantes avec l'indication de leurs differents etats et des prix auxquels

Inscriptions

across bottom in plate: Portrait du Caravage. / Tableau peint par lui même, qui est dans le Cabinet / de Monseigneur le Duc d'Orleans. / haut de 3. pieds large de 2. gravé par H. Simon Thomassin. 94; by later hand, across top verso in graphite: Engraved by Henri Simon Thomassin 1[8?]68-1740 France; by later hand, center left verso in graphite: F6167; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: C123

Wikidata ID

Q75122236

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