Self-Portrait

1898–1906

Frederick W. MacMonnies (American, 1863–1937)

Around 1898 Frederick W. MacMonnies suddenly abandoned his successful career as a sculptor to take up painting, but a lack of commercial success ultimately forced him to quit the medium in about 1906. At least nine self-portraits from this period are known. While in several of these MacMonnies holds a palette and brush, here he does not identify as an artist. Rather he portrayed himself as a gentleman of leisure, dressed and ready to attend a casual gathering. Part of a group of expatriate American artists living and working in Paris and Giverny, MacMonnies drew inspiration from the Old Masters, especially in the lighting and modeling of the figure, and from the Impressionists, whose loose brushwork and high-keyed colors likewise inform the composition.

Status: On View, Gallery 177
Department: Arts of the Americas

Artist: Frederick William MacMonnies
Title: Self-Portrait
Place: United States (Artist's nationality:)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: c. 1898–1906
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 54.6 × 45.7 cm (21 1/2 × 18 in.)
Credit Line: Purchased with funds provided by Mrs. Harold T. Martin
Reference Number: 1980.202

Judith A. Barter, et al., The Age of American Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Art Institute of Chicago (Art Institute of Chicago, 2011), cat. 53.

The artist; by descent to his second wife, Alice Jones MacMonnies, until c. 1963; given to Peter Joray, New York, c. 1963-1966; sold to Kennedy Galleries, New York, 1966-1980; sold to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1980.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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