Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Self Portrait
c. 1638/40
recorded in the Picture Gallery since 1720
© Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

In the final years of his life, Rubens withdrew from almost all his diplomatic duties. Despite his frequently voiced Stoic scepticism regarding courtly life - which one can also read in his eyes - Rubens embellished his self-portrait with attributes characteristic of court portraiture: the column, the sword and the glove, the turning of his body to face the viewer in order to distance himself from the latter. Although Rubens portrays himself as a painter-prince he places more emphasis on individual features - in his carefully executed face - than is customary in court portraits, thus allowing the weariness and other signs of age to become visible behind the official facade.