Self-Portrait

When this portraitof a young gentleman became a part of the Tansey Collection, it was thought toshow Mansion’s teacher Isabey. According to recent research,however, it is a self-portrait by Mansion. This conclusion is based on acomparison of this picture with a small self-portrait in the Musée desBeaux-Arts in Nancy¹ showing the miniaturist roughly five yearsearlier. The sitter’s posture, his features, curly hairstyle, long sideburnsand dark brown coat are identical in both portraits. However, the picture in Nancy is considerablysmaller and shows the sitter in front of an extensive landscape, whereas thelarge format of the portrait in the Tansey Collection gave the artist morefreedom to elaborate the details: the flesh parts are delicately andcolourfully modelled and the transition from light to shade is painted softly.The sitter’s eyes have a calm and thoughtful expression which gives intensityto the picture. Mansion did not exhibit his self-portrait in the annual Salonexhibition but kept it in his studio where it was copied by his students.

B. P.